Band:
Nick van Dyk – Guitars, Keyboards
Ray Alder – Vocals
Bernie Versailles – Guitars
Sean Andrews – Bass
Chris Quirarte – Drums
Discography:
Redemption (2003)
The Fullness Of Time (2005)
The Origins Of Ruin (2007)
Frozen In A Moment / Live In Atlanta DVD (2009 )
Snowfall On Judgment Day (2009)
Guests:
Info
Recorded and mixed by Neil Kernon
Artwork by Travis Smith
Released 26/9-2011
Reviewed 21/9-2011
Links:
redemptionweb.com
myspace
insideout
Nick states however in the promotional info that he didn’t want this to be a concept album about him and what happened to him, but you could still say that it is a soundtrack to a life shaken by such diagnostic at least if you are to believe the promotional information that followed the album. And I think you can note much of Nick’s ordeals in the songs, just looking at the titles it is rather obvious that many of them are centred around thought of life and death, and listening to the lyrics this becomes even more clear. I would say such things is an addition to the whole rather than a detractor, I also think there is a lot in these lyrics that all of us should think more about, life is short.
Musically this is a rather heavy album, it is progressive in a way that differ from the complex branch of the progressive metal, it is simpler than that and takes its progressive vein from the atmospheres rather than complex virtuosities. I would say that in many parts it reminds me of the brilliant A Pleasant Shade of Grey by Fates Warning, it is similar in style in many parts and it is Ray Alder singing and the lyrical theme of self reflection is also a similarity. It is also a musical creation that require some time for you to recognise the many elements in the music which is quite complex even though it looks much simpler on surface. Production is brilliant and does not defer anything from the songs, the vocals are more like one of the instrument rather than something standing over the instruments which creates a special atmosphere. This Mortal Coil has eleven tracks and it will require a bit over an hour to play in its entirety.
At first glance I thought this album was a bid bland and lacked quite a bit, it felt mostly quite heavy but without much else. After a few times though things started to appear, the many nuances of the musical style started to come out, the vocals made sense and all of a sudden the album felt really good. I think it has very much to offer through great songs and atmospheres and a style that you will not grow tired of in the first place, you should be prepared to give it a few times before you start warming up to the album though.
I think the opening Path of the Whirlwind is a very good opener and a good song, No Tickets to the Funeral is a brilliant track that catches my attention, same about the track I like best the sixth called Let it Rain which is a masterpiece. Begin again feels like a trackback to Let it Rain and a bit of a continuation of that song, very good and then the ending track is also a very good ten minute epic to round it all off. These tracks are the ones that I find to be slightly better than the other ones but the album as a whole is a very good album with no real shortcomings.
I think that you can say that cancer is not always the bad thing, look at what can be born from such diagnostic. Then of course it is probably never that much fun to end up getting it no matter what might follow so I really hope that the cancer chapter is over now for Nick and that he can remain well and create many more interesting albums in the future, this one is a very good album that I can strongly recommend.
HHHHHHH
