James La Brie - Impermanent Resonance (2013)

By iurgi -

James LaBrie's  new solo album is a departure, a new chapter, where the famous Dream Theater singer is asserting himself into new territory. This album doesn't sound like Dream Theater at all, it leaves aside progressive metal and embraces short, catchy and pop infused modern metal songs with a healthy dose of heaviness and sparse harsh vocals.

 Impermanent Resonance is the kind of album that will not change your life, and won't be remembered as a great album, but the good thing about it is that the song are beautifully catchy. The modern sounds and synths, the pop hooks and the vocal melodies by James LaBrie turn each song into a bright catchy (and often cheesy) experience that you just can't help but enjoy and sing along.

 Personally, I prefer the heavier moments in the album when the guitars get more of a presence and the harsh vocals provided by drummer Peter Wildoer add to the music in a big way (see the video below to listen to excellent album opener Agony). 

 Overall, this is a guilty sin of an album that I'm sure I will enjoy for a long time.

 Rating: Good Vibrations

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nosound - Afterthoughts (2013)

By iurgi -
Image
Originating from Italy Giancarlo Erra (the heart of Nosound) has been busy creating outstanding music for the last decade but Afterthoughts, contrary to the name of the album is no afterthought at all; I'd say this is the best Nosound album yet.  The band is often seen as progressive rock but Afterthoughts has no complex rhythm changes and structures, instead the music is deceivingly complex in its simplicity and the focus is on atmosphere.  Every single track in the album is there for good reason. The album flows seamlessly from hauntingly beautiful landscape to landscape with melancholic force and occasional, simmering, contained anger. The guitars, drums, percussion, keyboards and cello create hypnotic layers that sound simple and complex, symphonic but organic and grounded, never pompous. I dare say that this will surely have to be one of the best albums this year. An outstanding effort from start to end. The band release Wherever You Are as the single (see the video
Read more

Neuroticfish - A Sign of Life (2015)

By iurgi -
Image
  I’ve been eagerly waiting for this album since last years excellent EP Limited Behaviour and Neuroticfish have not disappointed me. A Sign of Life is an excellent album of very danceable future-pop, an absolute must for fans of future-pop and electronic music. You can listen to the album and support the band on their BandCamp page   here
Read more