Release
date: August 29th 2015. Label: Self Released. Formats:
CD/DD
Aphelion:
Tracklisting
1.The
Avout 05:39
2.La
Loba 06:00
3.Words
that Stay 06:27
4.Reverend
Mother Witch 04:20
5.Tyranny
of an Object 04:35
6.Acquisition
of Signal 00:30
7.Doorway_Descent_Dissolution
09:30
Band
Members:
Liz
Porcayo - Vocals
Daniel
Sides - Guitar
Ryan
Akin - Bass
Tim
Strovas - Drums
Review:
Seattle
Progressive Rock/Doom Metal unit – Skies Below – release their
debut album – Aphelion. An intriguing mix of Progressive Rock and
Doom Metal that creates quite an unforgiving album in tone and
nature. Opening track – The Avout – centres on lead vocalist –
Liz – whose powerful vocals that shows what a loud range she
actually holds. The music switches from fast-paced Progressive
Rock to the more slower gloomier style of Doom Metal which is
becoming quite popular recently. If you dig Pallbearer and TOOL then
you will find much to enjoy here as Skies Below create highly
emotionally involved music.
Second
track – La Loba – ventures into Psychedelic Space Rock territory
with the atmosphere slowly building up with traces of dangerous noise
never too far from the horizon. The riffs are superbly played but
it's Liz intense vocals that's the star of the show as she sings in
Spanish and even though I can't understand what she's singing it's
still very heartfelt and powerful at the same time. The music is
heavy and can become quite thunderous at times. It's good to see the
band experimenting with their sound by including a jazz-influenced
progressive metal sound near the end of the song. Very unexpected
indeed.
Third
track – Words That Stay – starts very slowly with traces of
post-metal subtlety coming into the mix as the music once again
builds to a loud volume of noise. Liz sings her heart out on this
song and impresses yet again. Damn, she can really hold a high note.
This spurs the rest of the band to create more progressive style Doom
Metal riffs that makes Words That Stay one of the albums stand-out
tracks. A perfect combination of vocals, melody and progressive doom
based riffs.
Fourth
track – Reverend Mother Witch – opens with an epic drone based
noise before the creepy guitars start to appear. The atmosphere flits
between Doom, Prog Rock and Post-Metal as the album becomes more
emotionally involving with the riffs having a TOOL-esque identity to
them.
Skies
Below now decide to inject a dose of world-weary blues rock into the
mix on fifth track – Tyranny Of An Object. This song has quite a
different styles all vying for attention – Doom, Prog Rock,
Post-Metal, Jazz and Blues. Now this could have failed spectacularly
however Skies Below pull this off brilliantly as they prove their
musical credentials for everyone to feel and hear.
Sixth
track – Acquisition Of Signal – is a 30 second ambient drone
based track. It's nothing more than a collection of strange noises.
Possibly to give you time to catch your breath. As the final song is
why you should buy this album for. I premièred this song on the blog
last week and it's my favourite track from the album.
Doorway_Descent_Dissolution
is 9:30 minutes of intense spaced-out trippy psychedelic progressive
doom metal magic which shows why Skies Below are such a talent. Liz's
dramatic and intense vocals matched against the sublime riffs that
Skies Below have created. This is a loud and thunderous attack on
the senses with the progressive doom metal sounds having a power all
of their own. Skies Below call upon Andrew Chapman (Vocalist from
Seattle Punk/Stoner Rockers – Princess) to provide great vocals of
his own.
Aphelion
is a strange as hell out of body experience that will have some
people thinking – What the hell is this? - My advice, just
enjoy the ride as this album is superb from start to finish. It
sounds incredible which isn't surprising since the legendary Tad
Doyle engineered, mixed and co-produced the album. If it's good
enough for Tad Doyle then it's definitely good enough for you to
check out.
Skies
Below have delivered a master-class of progressive metal. Check it
out now.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Skies Below for the promo. Aphelion is now available to buy on
CD/DD.
Links:
