The Pitch: Finnish prog and progressive death metal act Barren Earth, featuring members of Amorphis, Kreator, Mannhai, Rytmihäiriö, Hamferð and Moonsorrow, shake things up with their 4th album, A Complex of Cages, via Century Media.
What I Like: I have been hearing more and more bands fusing traditional prog rock and metal with progressive death...and I love it. BTBAM, Replicire, Opeth; all paving the way for extreme metal fans to also get interested in the roots of the genre. Enter Barren Earth's latest release, A Complex Of Cages. This album has a near perfect balance of both sides of the same prog coin. The guitar hooks deserve first mention, delivering an absolute whirlwind of both intensity and complexity. Sometimes favoring Dream Theater and Opeth's bouncy, heavy riff structures, others taking tips from the likes of Symphony X; There is a stunning level of dynamics and stylistic variety.
This ecclecticism is further aided by the keyboards, which similarly toy with various schools of prog. You get your more modern, atmospheric approach as well as classic Hammond organ (think Molly Hatchet) and that electro-80's sound familiar to bands like Rush and Europe. All of this is painstakingly united with the glue that is Marko Tarvonen's drumming. This guy clearly spends a lot of time listening to Mike Portnoy and Neil Peart. The highly intentional focus on detail of texture and pacing is simply stunning. And of course Jón Aldará's alternations between clearly Åkerfeldt-influenced death growls and dramatic clean singing are key in conveying a compelling story.
Critiques: I could stand for a few more heavy parts and some trimming of the more repetitious moments on tracks like "Scatterprey." It's not at all unusual for a prog album to clock in at over an hour, but A Complex Of Cages certainly has some parts that drag. Then again, I can be a little impatient. Bottom line, Barren Earth could have told the same story in a more concise way and in doing so heightened its overall impact.
The Verdict: A Complex Of Cages isn't a prefect album, but it does an excellent job of taking the wealth of stylistic influences from each band member and crafting them into a transfixing collage of progressive metal. Barren Earth is an impressive group with their eyes always fixed on the horizon of creativity. Check this album out today.
Flight's Fav's: The Living Fortress, Ruby, Spire
-Review by FlightOfIcarus
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