|
| |
|
: :
Forgotten
Silence - Kro ni ka : :
|
Band/Artist: Forgotten
Silence
Title: Kro ni ka
Released: 2006
Label: Redblack |
|
Track
Listing:
1. Brighton
/the streets and the pier/
2. declaration
/the marble halls V./
3. Mezzocaine |
: : The Players : :
Medvěd (guitar) - Krusty (bass, voice) -
Cepa (drums, percussion) - Marty (keyboards) - Biggles (guitar) |
 |
: : Kro
ni ka : :
 This
is the latest album from a Czech band that’s been around since ’94. As a
huge fan of eastern European progrock, I eagerly put this on in my
player. The beginning was really promising, 3 songs, each at least 17
minutes long. A bit scary, but the prospects were good after listening
to the first one. The song was really melodic to begin with. After that
it became clear to me, that this was a somewhat heavy album. In fact
after a while the song introduces quite a few splendid and very
aggressive riffs. It gives the feeling, that one could easily listen to
it for the 25 minutes the first song lasts, and for that, it certainly
varies enough.
The lyrics of this song are really good. It’s like reading a story of a
man, who one might suppose is about to leave this world, and the story
is very poetic. The only problem is, one only notices the lyrics when he
reads the sleevenotes. And even then it’s really hard to hear them. The
singing seems to be mixed very badly, badly enough to sadly take a huge
part of the song's soul away. It’s a shame, that all the lyrics
literally drown under the aggressive guitars. That is probably the only
thing that really makes the first song a bit less good.
And I was sad to notice that this is a thing that continues throughout
the whole record. It makes one wonder, why make full, long lyrical
pieces, and even write them both in Czech and English if they’re not
going to be heard? Well, nevertheless, the second track begins very
pompous. And one hears a welcome to the marble halls accompanied by an
organ, this actually sounds exactly like the song Pride of the Biosphere
by Wigwam, though that must only be because of the same chord it begins
with, and both have but organ and talking together. After that it turns
a really groovy gear. In fact the song is groovy in a Kansas like way
all the way to the end of it, with great.
I would not like to go comparing this band to something else, but some
of those who have heard early albums of Porcupine Tree might have a very
clear image on how the third song begins. The musicians themselves say
in the sleevenotes, that the album is about a city, and traveling, both
physically and psychically. Yet they do not wish to make someone forced
to approach the album only in certain mood. This they do very well. In
fact, I wanted to listen to this the first time, but didn’t really have
time for it, so I ended up forcing myself. Couldn’t really get the hang
of it. The next time I realized how extremely melodic this record is
despite the aggressive rhythms. Now that I’m listening to this again, I
realize no matter how I feel, I really find it innovative and inspiring.
Great music indeed. And I think personal in a good way.
 Now
here comes the hard part. What to say about an album, that is great on
pretty much every aspect, but could sound a lot better if it was mixed
better. Well, I once saw/heard a great gig. I noticed it was horribly
mixed, and the performers really suffered from it. But that didn’t take
away the fact, that it was great. But it was not the best, I thought.
Without the problems it could have been better, but if that really is
so, I will never know. Yet in this case, I have no certain image on how
the lyrics would sound if they would sound at all. So I can’t suppose it
would get better or worse. But if it could get better, it doesn’t
deserve the best rating, and, if it could get worse, well then, the
album benefits from errors like that, and can’t deserve a ten. Imagine a
band cutting out the bass because the bass player couldn’t play. There
would be no possible way of saying it’s completely good. Therefore I
find myself in the position of granting this album an 8, which would
come from 8,4. Never in the world with this mixing would it get a 9. But
I sincerely do recommend this album to everyone who’s ever listened to
progressive rock, and I can guarantee, even though no lyrics, this will
be along the albums I listen to frequently from this moment on!
Rating: 8 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Tuomas Renvall
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
Obscene (1996)
RedBlack
(1998)
RedBlack (2000)
Epidemie (2004)
Kro ni ka
(2006) |
|
|
 |
|
