Words can't really do this ambitious release justice.
When the Reviews Editor describes an album as a "musical maelstrom" I know I'm in for an audio battering. His instrument of choice for this particular onslaught is Reign Of The Architect: a new Progressive Metal band from Israel founded by guitarist Yuval Kramer. Much like Amaranthe, the band is made up of four musicians and three singers including a female and an occasional death growler. It took four years to make but their epic debut album 'Rise' is now out.
I know it's a bit clichéd but there's so much to this that it's really hard to sum it all up within the word limit, even after several listens I'm still taking it all in. Like all the best Progressive albums, 'Rise' has a whole conceptual story behind the music. It's a tale of love, destruction and survival in the aftermath of a struggle and the eternal battle between creation and destruction that wages within the human psyche. ROFT's debut features fifteen songs that form three chapters with this album being part one of a two part opera. Every song on 'Rise' is a winner and each one of them brings something different to the table. In fact it's not only the music that differs, the tracks have different participants with guest appearances from Mike LePond, (bass: Symphony X), Joost Van Den Broek, (keys: After Forever, ReVamp) and FW favourite Jeff Scott Soto, (vocals).
It's probably unfair to single out any particular track as each of them is equally impressive. What I can tell you is you can expect immense guitar riffs, massive arrangements and synth as well as lots of traditional instruments, thundering rhythms and varied vocals. The axe work from Kramer is highly creative and the orchestrations and choir passages are soundtrack standard. The multiple musical interludes and segments are as majestic as they are intricate whilst the overall soundscapes explored by ROTA are breathtaking.
Even by the grandiose standards of Progressive Metal this is an astonishing album from almost every angle. It's well written and expertly performed with each participant giving every ounce of energy and emotion they have. It's also been recorded pitch perfect so that everything is in the right place to be heard fully. 'Rise' is an album I want to and have put on again and again; it is an absolute beast. But like all albums' described as a juggernaut or a maelstrom, this demands equal effort from the listener and it can leave you feeling like you played a part in bringing this musical dream to life.
Words can't really do this ambitious release justice, you just have to hear it for itself and see what effect it has on you. This is one set of Architects who have built something awe inspiring to behold.
Dave Scott
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