Released By : Rock Paper Scissors
Genre: Progressive Alt. Rock
Links : http://www.myspace.com/spiridion
Lineup:
Ross Cocker – Vocals
James Davies – Guitar
Kevin Llewellin – Guitar
Phil Smith – Drums
Rich Cogin – bass
Tracklist:
1. Thirty Eight & Gone
2. Becoming Nothing
3. From Within
4. Pedestal
5. A Structure To Form
6. A Moment Of Clarity
7. Fallback
8. Inflicted
9. Pareidolla
10. State Of Decay
11. Perish
12. Smoke & Mirrors
What do you get when you cross TOOL with some DEFTONES, mix in a little SYSTEM OF A DOWN and finish it all off with a touch of Screamo Metal. Who knows really, but I imagine it would sound something akin to what is happening on the debut full-length album from South Wales metal band SPIRIDION.
The first thing that stuck out for me when I started listening to this album was just how much care had gone into writing and especially recording each track. Some albums benefit from no-frills basic tunes and a raw production, but sometimes it’s really nice to hear a pure studio album that sounds like it took a long time to create. The fact that the band acquired their own studio in 2009 has paid off immensely, and it’s obvious from the get-go that most non-major label bands could afford the studio time needed to create an opus of this magnitude.
I very much enjoyed the unique sound that SPIRIDION displayed on their debut album, and while the obvious base sound is rooted in the modern Alt. Rock/Alt. Metal mould, there is a large emphasis on progressive rock sounds that remind me of another band I first discovered earlier on in the year called ORDER OF VOICES.
Opening track THIRTY EIGHT & GONE actually reminds me of the TOOL track FORTY SIX & 2, a coincidence maybe, but this is a band that clearly wears its influences on its sleeve. FROM WITHIN is a slow, brooding tune that sounds like it could have easily been recorded by DEFTONES, especially considering that vocalist ROSS COCKER, has a spectacular voice that at times can sound a lot like CHINO MORINO. INFLICTED was my highlight track, which features a great combination of all of the influences mentioned earlier, but also adds a tiny hint of NIRVANA and a little bit of SNOT. Ending track SMOKE & MIRRORS brings the DEFTONES vibe back for one more round and really ends the album on a high note.
My only fear for SPIRIDION is that they might me a little bit late to the punch. Don’t get me wrong, these guys are definitely a world class act with enough of a unique sound to go far, but I can’t help but think that if A MOMENT OF CLARITY was released in say 1997-98 it would have been absolutely huge. If you like any of the bands mentioned in this review, do yourself a favor and check these guys out, the entire album is available for streaming on the bands myspace page so there really is no excuse not to have a little listen.
Written By ZeeZee
Rating : 8/10
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