Album Type:
Album
Date Released:
03rd
November 2014
Label:
Maybe Records
Harness-Minus
- track listing:
01 Chase To The
Throne
02 Cult Leader's
Handbook
03 Proles
04 Codes
05 Here Lie The
Ruins
06 Ship Of Fools
07 Graveyard Of
Ambition
08 Bridges
09 Sleepers
10 Sgwd Henrhyd
Bio
Presenting their
inimitable and impressive brand of left-field, cliff-shearing riffage
- married to an infectiously melodic and hooky bite -South Wales’
Prosperina released their debut Faith In Sleep to widespread critical
acclaim at the tail end of 2012. Variously lauded by the mainstream
rock press as “extremely accomplished” – Kerrang! “gorgeous”
– Metal Hammer, and “expertly cohesive” – Rocksound, plaudits
and comparisons soon ran the gauntlet from Tool to Soundgarden, Pink
Floyd to Kyuss, Mastodon to A Perfect Circle and several points
in-between.
The rousing choruses
and powerful anthemic quality of the band’s widescreen workouts
occasionally belie the highly developed musical and rhythmic
complexity kicking away just below the surface. Likewise their
masterly control of dynamics and pacing further aids the extraction
of the pop from the prog and the drone from the doom. It’s an
attractive mix.
Members
Gethin Woolcock -
Vocals/Guitar
Owen Street - Bass
Yotin Walsh - Drums
Review:
Prosperina
released a stunning debut album called Faith To Sleep back in 2012,
which was acclaimed for its style of Progressive Stoner/Sludge Metal
riffs that saw the band being compared to Kyuss, ISIS and TOOL all in
one go. Prosperina music crosses a lot of different boundaries such
as Prog Rock, Sludge, Stoner and hints of Post-Metal for one
uncompromising slab of heavy riffs.
Prosperina’s
new album Harness-Minus is where the band finally comes into their
existence. This is a band finally announcing their arrival to the
Hard Rock/Metal world as their 2nd album is a powerhouse of heavy
noises and riffs with a stirring social message attached. Opening
track – Chase To The Throne – shows that Prosperina have lost
none of their progressive magic as they expertly play a track that
echoes different moods to embrace yourself with. Hints of Progressive
Stoner Metal are matched with a more dangerous Sludge Rock vibe
running through it’s veins.
Second
track – Cult Leader’s Handbook – is possibly one of the albums
standout tracks as it’s a loud angry wake-up call to the
dis-satisfied people in the world told through pummelling progressive
sludgy riffs and a blistering chorus which lead vocalist Gethin who
sings with passionate conviction. As with all good musical trio’s,
Prosperina make every note count as they impress you with their
fast-paced riffs whilst making you feel uncomfortable at the same
time. As Prosperina venture into dark territories on the album and
this song is a prime example of this though the mood becomes darker
as time progresses.
3rd
track – Proles – sees the band in a more reflective mood whilst
maintaining their dangerous hard-rocking edge as they have written a
pounding thumping anthem for the masses. The guitars are HUGE with
intense drumming holding the bleak atmospherics together for a
punishing onslaught of sludge/stoner riffs for you to chew on.
Prosperina turn into bona-fide future Stadium Rock warriors with this
track as it's one of the finest tracks they have written.
The
first 3 songs from Harness-Minus will show you what is in store for
the rest of the album. Powerful and crushing tunes that draw a fine
line between Sludge, Stoner, Post-Metal and Prog-Rock. Though
Prosperina show their tender caring side on slow-paced tune – Here
Lies The Ruins – that contains a more ambient soothing post-rock
vibe compared to the harder-hitting earlier tracks. It’s good to
see that Prosperina can mix the different sounds and styles of their
music to fine dramatic effect.
Harness-Minus
is a complex sounding album at times as you can tell that Prosperina
don’t stick to one set route with their sound. It’s a progressive
mind field at times. They even include ambient-based drone on Ship Of
Fools. A two minute song that I would never of expected here but it’s
good that Prosperina try many different sounds and still sound so
good. Though it’s the heavier based tracks where Prosperina mean
business as it gives Harness-Minus a huge sounding atmosphere that is
very hard to beat.
We
have already seen their Welsh Sludge/Stoner Metal brothers in arms –
H A R K and Sigiriya – release critically acclaimed albums of their
own and you can now put Prosperina along with them as one of the more
exciting Sludge/Stoner Metal bands coming from the Welsh Hard
Rock/Metal scene. Prosperina end the album on a bleak note with –
Sgwid Henrhyd – that is named after the tallest Waterfall in South
Wales.
Yeah
I had to do some research for that one but it was worthwhile as it’s
considered such a beautiful and important landmark to the people of
South Wales. It’s a haunting and powerful tune with a spellbinding
voice-over giving the song such an emotional vibe to it. It evokes
memories of much-missed UK Sludge/Drone/Doom/Post-Metal collective –
Fall of Erfara. As it carries the same emotional weight that
legendary band is known for. Prosperina add a one final huge blast of
noise to impress you with. It gives the album such a haunting feel
that Harness-Minus
is an outstanding album that will win Prosperina many plaudits in the
months to come. It’s an epic album that is simply unmissable.
Thanks
to Prosperina for sending me a promo to review. Harness-Minus will be
available to buy on CD/DD from Maybe Records from November 3rd 2014.
Check
The Band Form Links below
Written
by Steve Howe
Check The Video for Cult Leader's Handbook.
