Artist: Nightingale
Label: The End Records
Release Date: 1/14/03
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Title: Alive Again: The Breathing Shadow Part IV Artist: Nightingale Label: The End Records Release Date: 1/14/03 |
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Abyss's Review:
I guess I should start this out by warning all of you who are unfamiliar with this band that they don't really resemble metal at all. While Dan Swano, one of the creative forces of Nightingale, is most widely known for death metal acts such as Edge of Sanity and Bloodbath, this album is a progressive rock album, so be forewarned that this is for the open minded. Thusly, if I use the term 'heavy' it must be taken with a rock sensibility in mind.
"The album is sickeningly sweet in its melodies, most of which would fit right along some of the sappier stuff on the radio today." While this is billed as a 'progressive' rock project, the only thing that really seems to put it in that category is the multitude of sounds that are layered into every song. Aside from this deep feel, there is little experimentation going on, and most songs hit with a sharp pop sensibility. I have to admit, as much as I love Dan Swano's work, I really haven't been in the mood to listen to this style of music in awhile, and that's made it a little harder for me to fully embrace this record. This record is very successful, however, and its strongest asset is the very characteristic that might make most metalheads disregard it.
The album is sickeningly sweet in its melodies, most of which would fit right along some of the sappier stuff on the radio today. And despite the layers draped around and through each and every song, it is these melodies that define the album. Each song inevitably strikes a pop chord come chorus time, giving each song a structure that is hard to envision as progressive.
"For what this album is, it's damn near perfect, although I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish it had a little more of an edge about it." Basically if you like one of these songs you will like them all because they are all very similar stylistically. That isn't to say that all of the songs sound the same, because they don't, but they definitely all utilize the same vibe. Songs like "Shadowman," "State of Shock" and "The One" strike me as brilliant soft rock (yes it would be stretching it to call this stuff hard rock), and I find myself humming the choruses and annoying the people sitting next to me on the subway. Another standout track is "Eternal" which is probably the most far-reaching song on the record, and definitely its centerpiece. It has a very epic sense about it, and really puts the remainder of the album in perspective.
So while I must admit I've really wanted to break a lot of things lately (it's hard damn work being a NY Giants fan... stupid fucking 49ers!), this album has let me mellow out a little, which isn't always a bad thing. For what this album is, it's damn near perfect, although I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish it had a little more of an edge about it. One word review: Pleasant.
Death's Review:
Dan Swano has been involved with many projects over the years, spanning the full spectrum of metal, including Edge of Sanity, Pan-Thy-Monium, Unicorn, Wounded Knee, Ulan Bator, Karaboudjan, Odyssey, Infestad, Bloodbath and Star One. He is truly one of the most prolific and talented musicians in the underground metal scene.
"Instead, we have Edge of Sanity meets Whitesnake meets Tears for Fears." Still, his new project, Nightingale, pretty much sucks. Well, let me take that back. It doesn't suck. There's a big difference between an album that sucks and something that I, personally, just don't like all that much. So let me rephrase: I just don't like Nightingale all that much. Yes, the musicianship is apparent and Swano's musical vision is expansive enough to evoke thoughts of the continents of the world. The problem? Those "continents" are conjured because the band reminds me of eighties A.O.R. synth pop like Europe, Asia and that song "Africa" by Toto. This is not the prog metal album I was looking for.
Instead, we have Edge of Sanity meets Whitesnake meets Tears for Fears. Sure, there is a nice metallic guitar solo flourish on track two (listed as track 28 on the packaging), "Shadowman," that catches my attention but only lasts for a moment. Then there are the pure synth-pop songs that have very little to do with metal like track four (or track 30 on the packaging), "Falling," or track eight (34), "The One." From an overall rock/pop music perspective, these are probably some of the "catchiest" songs on the record and are worthy of note. From a metalhead's perspective who is a fan of Bloodbath and Edge of Sanity, this is pretty much crap. I mean c'mon, let's be honest, if you walked into someone's house who didn't like metal and they were listening to "The One" or "Falling" and you didn't know what it was, you'd be making fun of their bad musical taste. So let's be consistent here, shall we? Sure, I like mellow stuff too like Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Tool, Anathema, Katatonia and Amorphis, all of which is way heavier than Nightingale and all of which smokes this new Swano record.
"From a metalhead's perspective who is a fan of Bloodbath and Edge of Sanity, this is pretty much crap." Bottom line? The production and musicianship are first-rate, but unless you are a huge Swano fan or you like this type of sound, you really should stay away.
Hel's Review:
I have long thought of Dan Swanö as a Devin Townsend-type character. You know, an incredibly brilliant songwriter and musician, driven by his need to pour out every single note in his soul, no matter how heavy or light it may be. Hevy Devy's Terria was by no means a brutal metal album, but it was atmospheric and wonderful, despite its mellow bent. To me, Alive Again has very similar mellow sensibilities. The point is not to land you on your ass through sheer heaviness, but instead, to land you there through sheer emotion and melodic infection.
"Those who demand all aggression, all the time, are not those who will appreciate Nightingale."
"Skeptics should take the time to completely focus on the album through one full revolution before naysaying it. Lighten up." Those who demand all aggression, all the time, are not those who will appreciate Nightingale. The most "metal" thing on the album is the piercing scream that ends it. But, if you have ever been inclined to appreciate the more mellow side of metal, just hop onboard to see where the journey leads - you may find yourself entranced by this record, as I am. I am a novice when it comes to Nightingale, so I am unable to clarify where this album lies in the spectrum of this band. But I can tell you this: Edge of Sanity or Bloodbath, for example, this is not.
Everyone here knows that, in most instances, when I am presented with two metal albums, I tend to like the heaviest one. My favorite kind of metal is death. So you may be asking yourself, "what the hell?" "The hell" is this - Nightingale's latest is a superb example of infectious songwriting and superior musicianship. Swanö has an incredible clean singing voice, which lends itself wonderfully to the music on the album. I am convinced that a message lies behind the lyrics of the album, but I have not yet taken the extra step of discerning it. For now, I'm enjoying it for what it is. Skeptics should take the time to completely focus on the album through one full revolution before naysaying it. Lighten up.
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