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SPHERE OF SOULS - From the Ashes ...
Lion Music
Release Date: 2006-04-21
by: JASON SAGALL metalexpressradio.com |
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Sphere of Souls' 13-track debut release, From the Ashes ...,
succeeds in bringing its own identity to Progressive Metal. Although
the album exhibits intelligence, theme, melody, accuracy, and
atmosphere, what it needs to round out its own musical sphere is,
ironically, more soul.
Former Sun Caged vocalist Andre Vuurboom wrote the music and
lyrics for the album; he also delivered the vocals and played rhythm
guitar. Joost van den Broek, also formerly of Sun Caged, co-wrote
one track and handled keyboards and all production duties. The
remaining line-up includes Kees Harrison (ex-Equinox) on bass, Ruud
van Diepen on drums, Rob Cerrone (ex-Imperium) on rhythm guitar, and
Anand Mahangoe on lead guitar.
Generally the music is in the vein of Sun Caged. While it tends
to show more maturity in terms of composition and arrangement, it
lacks the fire of guitarist Marcel Coenen, as exhibited on
Sun Caged (2003, Lion Music). Mahangoe shows technical
proficiency and gives a basically admirable performance, but in the
final analysis, the lead guitar work doesn't quite take charge as it
should during the solos. Too much reverb adds to the leads'
intangible feel.
Contributing to the overall sterility is Vuurboom's voice, which
is comparable in quality, range, and style to Tony Harnell in TNT's
post-80s, Pop-flavored years. That is, the approach is on the
conservative and light side, with a smooth feel typical of Pop. The
vocal melodies are memorable, if you want to remember them. The thin
vocal quality, however, may overpower the strong melodic flavor,
depending on the individual listener's taste. In any event, the
melodies make an impression as a defining characteristic of the
music, for better or worse.
The other defining characteristic is the music's atmosphere,
which is usually on the dreary side and strangely monolithic, a
result of the combination of a congested distortion sound on the
guitars, spacey keyboards, and lackluster singing. It all rides a
paradoxical line between entrancing and uninteresting. Despite an
occasional, uplifting (and rather welcomed) Dream Theater-ism,
Sphere of Souls' music may prove to be an acquired taste for most.
Forget about catchy guitar grooves. This is not about grooves.
Forget about riffs. If there is virtue to be had here, it is in the
atmosphere, melody, and general thematic quality. Think Alan Parsons
crossed with Mr. Mister, turned heady Metal. Then give From the
Ashes ... a listen.
Band:
SphereOfSouls.com
Label:
LionMusic.com |
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Sphere Of Souls - From The Ashes (Lion
Music) By: Joe Florez
www.live4metal.com |
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This is the debut album
from six phenomenal Dutch performers who come from other bands that
are somewhat famous in their homeland, but not across the Atlantic.
It’s obvious that they come from a prog background and continue to
play in this vein, but they manage to mix things up to prevent this
listening experience from becoming boring. The title track is very
beefy in sound, as there are plenty of riffs that are rich and thick
and very metallic, but always manage to carry a melody. Keyboardist
Joost van den Broek inserts this unique vibe that’s a mix of the
ambient, spacey and trippy that gives this album some extra depth
and interesting dynamics. Lead vocalist Andre is a good crooner who
never goes outside |
of his range.
Sure, he hits his high notes, but he’s not obnoxious about it; he
wants to hold your interest and not make you want to hit the eject
button. The guys don’t hesitate to toss in a ballad early on in this
offering. It’s an acoustic number that adds a smooth and calm vibe
that comes off as peaceful and tranquil. The more upbeat tracks
outweigh the softer material, but it’s all good. It’s very
competitive out there to stand out in this genre, but a few things
save them. First off, while not the most original band on he planet,
they offer variety in their music which includes change ups on a
consistent basis, going from mid to slow and back again to keep
things fresh. Secondly, the musicianship by everyone is Grade A due
to the fact that the guys don’t get overly technical with their
material. The drummer is ambidextrous while he strikes his skins
hard, but is efficient. The solos on each of the tracks kick ass.
This is a no frills band. I expect great things from these lads as
time goes on. An impressive debut.
www.lionmusic.com |
www.sphereofsouls.com |
Sphere Of Souls – From The Ashes… (Lion Music,
21/04/2006)
Impressive debut album from Dutch progmetal band Sphere Of Souls,
featuring ex-Sun Caged members André Vuurboom (v, g) and Joost van de Broek
(k). The band, six members in total, is completed with virtuoso Anand
Mahangoe on lead guitars, Rob Cerrone on rhythm guitars, Kees Harrison on
bass and Ruud van Diepen on drums. “From The Ashes…”, a concept album that
takes the listener on a journey through the dark, contains 13 tracks ranging
from rather ‘atmospheric’ to quite ‘heavy’. Never mind the loss of Sun Caged,
because Sphere Of Souls is an excellent (though not always easy to fathom)
continuation. Another goodie from our good friends at Lion Music.
www.rockreport.be
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Sphere of
Souls: From the Ashes
 After
releasing an incredible
debut album with Sun Caged,
each member started leaving
the band, starting with
drummer Dennis Leeflang,
followed by Joost van den
Broek, and then by vocalist
Andre Vuurboom. After a year
or so, this was followed by
the departure of bassist Rob
van der Loo leaving
guitarist Marcel Coenen on
his own. Each member left in
order to go their own way,
which resulted in several
albums and projects,
including Leeflang's work
with guitar god Bumblefoot;
van der Broek's joining
After Forever; Rob van der
Loo's releasing his
accomplished solo album
Characters; and vocalist
Andre Vuurboom's forming his
new band, Sphere of Souls.
This album has been long
in the works, but finding a
good label and completing
the band's lineup both took
time. Basically, Sphere of
Souls is Andre Vuurboom's
solo project as all songs
except one were written by
him. Joining Vuurboom is his
former Sun Caged bandmate
Joost van der Broek on
keyboards. Joost has also
mixed, recorded and produced
this album successfully. On
rhythm guitars, there is Rob
Cerrone from Vuurboom's
first band Imperium; whilst
Ruud van Diepen is sitting
behind the drums and
ex-Autumn Equinox member
Kees Harrison is on bass.
Last but not least, Anand
Mahangoe, noted Dutch axeman,
stepped in as a full-time
member after laying down his
solos from his home studio.
Great lineup without a doubt,
but what's better is the
music they've produced as a
unit. Surely, From the
Ashes is going to please
most (if not all) Sun Caged
fans, offering slabs of
technicality, with god-heavy
rhythms, and thunderous bass
lines. However, this album
is darker than anything else
these guys have done before,
marked with beautiful
acoustic guitars and
atmospheric keyboard effects.
Most of the songs are
built upon a solid
foundation of crunch-filled
guitars and dark synth lines.
Add to this the amazing
vocals of Andre Vuurboom
whom you've never heard like
this before. Neither with
Imperium nor with Sun Caged,
Vuurboom never sounded so
expressive and passionate,
delivering the lyrics and
melodies with heartfelt
sincerity. Perhaps this is
because he had the freedom
to write the most fitting
music for himself, but at
any rate, this album
displays his finest
performance to date. At
times, I am reminded of the
great Ray Alder when I hear
certain parts in some of the
songs, such as the vocal
variations on the title
track, a piece complete with
a killer guitar and synth
interplay; or the entirely
acoustic song "Loss" where
Vuurboom's voice is
absolutely emotive and
heart-breaking. Think Fates
Warning's Inside Out
period where Alder would
delve into mesmerizing lower
register vocals, the singing
on this album comes close to
that. I had no idea Vuurboom
was such a diverse singer.
For example, on the more
vocal-based track "No
Salvation", he uses his very
smooth, almost hypnotic
clean voice; while on the
super-heavy "Lies Inc." (a
bit similar to the song
Vuurboom sang on the Freak
Neil Inc. album), his vocals
range from highly processed,
effect-laden passages to
nearly growled aggressive
type of screams that,
considering the insane bass
and drum syncopatation and
odd-timed guitar chords,
recall Meshuggah, only more
controlled.
The songs are rich in
dynamics, often shifting
between chaotic, rapid-fire
riffage and calm, soothing
keyboard and acoustic
sections. And on numbers
like "Empty", they even
weave some electronic
samples into their craft,
broadening the scope of
their compositions. A
similar approach is utilised
on the multi-segmented "Beneath
the Surface", littered with
processed yet ultimately
catchy vocal harmonies,
shuddering guitar work, and
a very soft, tranquil
acoustic break with an
angelic vocal melody draped
over it. "Until Death Do Us
Part" belies its melodic
roots, opting for a trebly
bass bottom, bone-crushing
rhythmic angle, and a
phenomenal lead solo by
Mahangoe. This guy is an
amazing player, almost as
good as Marcel Coenen. His
solos are very well-written
and played with impressive
restraint. Though all good,
the lead attack on "Extinct"
has got to be his most
emotional work on this
album, perhaps also because
of the way he is followed by
Joost's ethereal synth lead.
By the way, kudos to the
amazing and personal lyrics
on "Room 6" ("The more I
want to change, the more I
stay the same"); strangely
this, too, makes me think of
Ray Alder, and I love it.
Not much more needs to be
said. This is an outstanding
debut, just like the Sun
Caged album. Let's hope they
stay intact and release
their sophmore earlier than
their former band (who are
said to put it out some time
this year). As a final note,
From the Ashes is
less jazzy than the Sun
Caged album, but has more
crunch to it that could be
likened to Zero Hour and
Degree Absolute's heavier
songs.
Track Listing
- From the Ashes…
- Sweet Sorrow
- Loss
- Beneath the Surface
- Empty
- Until Death Do Us
Part
- Extinct
- Room 9
- No Salvation
- Untruth
- Lies Inc.
- Room 6
- Epilogue
Added: May 4th 2006
Reviewer:
Murat Batmaz
www.seaoftranquility.org
Score:
 
Related Link:
Sphere of Souls website |
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Sphere Of Souls -
From The Ashes
Lion Music (LMC171)
Rating - 9/10
Review Dougie
www.hardrockhouse.com
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I’ve said before and I’ll say
it again, I bet Queensryche and
Dream Theater wish they could charge commission from every band
they have influenced, that would be worth a bob or two. Sphere
Of Souls are yet another band in a long line who draw heavily
upon those two bands on this, their debut album. Other names
that spring to mind on first listening to ' From The Ashes' are
the likes of Rush, Saga Iron Maiden and It Bites.
Given the fact that 'From The
Ashes, out via Lion Music, is a concept album, preconceived odds
were well and truly against it being anything fabulous,
especially as all the members of the band come from other
outfits and the press release describes them as the ultimate
amalgamation of Dutch prog-metal talent - I wonder what Arjen
Lucassen would have to say about that! Luckily the musicality on
display is stunning and add to that the fact that I’ve listened
to this album at least twelve times and I’m still finding
something new and interesting is a testament to how good the
song writing is - preconceived ideas out of the window then.
The concept that Sphere Of
Souls serves up is all about the human soul and history
repeating itself - I think and given the strength of all of the
songs on the album it is hard to single any individual track out
for praise. That actually may also be for the best as I would
recommended that you listen to the album in its entirety as all
of the songs are interwoven and definitely works best as one
contentious piece of music. A great start and an album that has
blown me away, one of the best prog metal debuts ever!
Let
us know your views on
'From The Ashes'
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Track List
From the Ashes
Sweet Sorrow
Loss
Beneath The Surface
Empty
Until Death Do Us Part
Extinct
Room 9
No Salvation
Untruth
Lies Inc.
Room 6
Epilogue
Line Up
André Vuurboom - Vocals/Guitars
Kees Harrison - Bass
Rob Cerrone - Guitars
Anand Mahangoe - Guitars
Joost van den Broek - Keyboards |
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