|
|
"With this surprising and original "Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night Part 1", Night Verses goes against the grain of recent instrumental albums."
|
4/5
|
|
|
|
Night Verses has a really interesting career. Formed in 2012 by the reunion of singer Douglas Robinson and the post-rock trio Sound Archives, the Californian band has built up a nice success in an explosive, technical metalcore style. But after just two albums, Robinson decided to jump ship and Night Verses made a radical decision: to do without a singer and continue as an instrumental trio. The album that followed, 'From The Gallery Of Sleep', showed just how sensible this decision was. Without vocals, Night Verses' music took on a whole new dimension, turning out to be an unclassifiable blend of post-metal and progressive metal, dominated by the impressive creativity of the three musicians, well-versed in heavy ambiences and convoluted polyrhythms. Their new album, 'Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night Part 1', goes a long way towards proving that it's still possible to be original on a scene dominated by the big names in instrumental djent.
The djent here is only marginal, and mainly because Aric Importa, Night Verses' drummer and former Fever 333 drummer, is quite simply impressive from start to finish, backed up by an imperious Reilly Herrera on bass. There's no doubt about it, Night Verses' rhythm section has nothing to envy the greats of modern progressive metal. Yet the trio's influences lie elsewhere, notably in grunge and stoner, just like Tool, the Californians' main reference. A reference that comes through particularly strongly on '8 Gates Of Pleasure', 'Rose Wire' and 'Love In A Liminal Space', all of which shine with their assertive ambient edge and disturbing groove. Night Verses don't hold anyone back in this respect, inviting Justin Chancellor, Tool's bassist, to play on the haunting 'Séance'.
But the real originality of Night Verses' music lies in a unique sound, forged by guitarist Nick DePirro, and based on a combination as unusual as it is difficult to master: open chords, incredibly precise natural harmonics and intensive use of the whammy pedal. Unlike Tom Morello, who uses the pedal mainly as a gimmick in the service of his propensity for showmanship, DePirro experiments with all the possibilities offered by DigiTech's little red box to create truly transgressive music and soundscapes, using the instant octave transpositions and sound effects made possible by the famous effects pedal as an integral part of his compositions. The excellent 'Arrival' and 'Karma Wheel' are the most representative examples of this singular creative approach, which helps to make each track truly interesting.
"Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night Part 1' is a surprising and original album which, with its very special atmosphere, goes against the grain of recent instrumental albums. Part 2 has already been recorded and should be out shortly, with different compositions and... guest singers. So there's more to come from Night Verses... - Official website
|
|
|
|
|
TRACK LISTING:
 01. 8 Gates Of Pleasure - 5:51
02. Arrival - 3:48
03. Rose Wire - 3:33
04. Karma Wheel - 4:50
05. Love In A Liminal Space - 5:06
06. Bound To You - 5:09
07. Séance - 5:14
LINEUP:
Aric Improta: Batterie
Nick Depirro: Guitares
Reilly Herrera: Basse
Justin Chancellor: Basse / Invité
|
|
| |
|
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top of the page
|
| |
|
|
(0) COMMENT(S)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
READERS
-/5 (0 view(s))
|
STAFF:
4.5/5 (2 view(s))
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
OTHER REVIEWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|