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: : Culmination of an Era : :
I must tell you that I love female vocalists in
progressive rock music. It is the angelic quality of a female voice that
seems to mix and fit so well with the style of prog music that is
comfortable to my ears.
Tenebrious hits all my musical buttons including a powerful female
vocalist, talented players, rich guitar work, washed by a glowing swath
of ethereal keyboards.
Hailing from Colorado, Tenebrious provides us a unique look into home
grown US prog that has both ties to the past and feelers out for the
future. As stated the female vocalist has a rich and strong voice
blending heavy harmonies with introspective lyrics.
At times you sense a “prog metal” feel but that is really as a second
thought if you understand what that means. I think I pick that up from
the not so subtle “sword and sorcery” imagery they tend to have in their
songs. Song titles like Odin’s Descent, Mistress of the New Moon,
Juggernaut, and Lacrima just to name a few.
I really like this CD. The playing is strong, the vocals and harmonies
are strong, the lyrics (while some might call cheesy) are interesting,
and the song structures point to players that not only know how to play
their instruments but also know how to hold back when needed and when to
smash you upside the head.
Frankly, unlike some CD’s this one gets better with each track and that
is saying something as the opening “Follow” sets a strong platform on
which Tenebrious can launch its musical power and glory.
By the time the listener gets to
“Fallen Angel” you are ready for a break and these guys provide it. A
song about the fallen dark lord. A HEAVY dirge of a song with a male
vocal as the front with Missy’s heavenly angelic vocal harmonies filling
in the spaces. Slow moving and powerful it reminds me of a more
metalized “Carpet Crawlers”. The piano solo really juxtaposes the entire
sonic journey and ties both ends of the song tightly together. You find
yourself almost sorry for the “romantic evil the world craves, and
savior of the damned”. A well done song on all points.
There is one all instrumental song, “Engine #9” that is interesting in
that it is the only song that seems like it was not part of the mind set
for the entire CD. That is until “Ghost in the Crowd” starts and the
listener can hear and feel the link Engine #9 brought to the song before
it and after. Well done.
The title song concludes this very ambitious CD. A song about the end of
an era. The end of truth in the media, the end of caring for our fellow
man, the end of peace on earth with god no longer what we seek,
exchanged for money and greed.
I’m just betting that this band is great live.
Stephen Ellis
Rating: 8 of 10
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
Culmination of an Era - 2003 |
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