By:
Chris Markwell
Album
Type: Full
Length
Date
Released: 09/09/2016
Label:
Playfalse
Records
From cellos to righteous crescendos, this
song album plumbs the depths of heavy prog and, weirdly, allows the listener to
reach new heights as a result.
Paradoxical? Sure. Bloody invigorating? You better believe it, buddy. 10 tracks of heavy, expressive, expansive
music, just waiting to show you just how mythical Greek metal can be. Pray to the Old Gods, and seek salvation in
‘Harmonic Confusion’.
‘Harmonic
Confusions’ CD//DD track listing:
01.
Insertion
02. Fire Red Glass Heart
03. The Electric Sun
04. Self Destructive Haze
05. Thread of Life
06. Concentric Waves
07. Triangulation Through Impasse
08. Savior Complex
09. Echoes 213
10. Chronicity
The
Review:
Sometimes
music strikes like a bolt hurled from Mount Olympus, electrifying the very
fabric of your being (and ruining the land around you). From on high, I was sent the latest album
from Greek prog-metallers Tardive Dyskinesia,
titled ‘Harmonic Confusion’ and set for
release on September 9th through Playfalse Records. This quintet has already been making waves,
having been featured in the Greek Metal Hammer’s Top 20 progressive metal bands
list and playing alongside bands like Mastodon and Meshuggah. With
their musical resumé already looking impressive, it seems apt to turn my focus
to their actual music.
It’s clear from the offset that Tardive Dyskinesia
are suited to share stages with Mastodon and Meshuggah: they have this undeniable groove and malicious
metal swagger that would make any venue – from pubs to arenas – pulse and rock
with a vibrant, violent energy. What I
got from listening to ‘Harmonic
Confusion’ was this unmistakeable tincture of Germany’s The Ocean.
Vocalist/guitarist Manthos Stergiou has a similar vocal range to The Ocean’s Loïc Rossetti, and the way the songs are
structured reminds me very much of the way Robin Staps creates his band’s
music.
That’s certainly not a bad thing. Hell, The Ocean are one of my
favourite bands of all time, and Tardive Dyskinesia have
made music that evokes a similar emotional response from me. Guys, whatever you do, don’t ever stop making
music, okay? Tracks like ‘Self Destructive Haze’ and ‘Echoes 213’ just ooze this confidence,
with the triple guitar attack adding this extra layer of scope to
proceedings. When this album comes on,
be prepared to let every other pressing concern in your life take a back seat,
as listening to ‘Harmonic Confusion’
will become your number one priority.
When ‘Thread of
Life’ started up on my speakers, the track grabbed me by the shoulders and
pulled me into the audio heavens on metal wings. From cellos to righteous crescendos, this
song plumbs the depths of heavy prog and, weirdly, allows the listener to reach
new heights as a result.
Paradoxical? Sure. Bloody invigorating? You better believe it, buddy.
‘Harmonic
Confusion’ by Tardive Dyskinesia was
a lit match, and I was petrol. When we
met, it set me alight. And that feeling
continues each and every time I listen back to this record (which is a
lot). Although labeled as prog metal, I
must admit this really wouldn’t be out of place in any metal-lover’s
collection. 10 tracks of heavy,
expressive, expansive music, just waiting to show you just how mythical Greek
metal can be. Pray to the Old Gods, and
seek salvation in ‘Harmonic Confusion’.
Check out an exclusive track called "Triangulation Through Impasse" below and ‘Harmonic
Confusion’ ’ is available here
RIYL: Meshuggah, The Ocean, Mastodon,
Intronaut
