This is the second album from the side-project of Nemo singer/guitarist JP Louveton, where he is joined by Julian Clemens (vocals – importantly, unlike Nemo, the vocals are here provided in clear unaccented English), Guillaum Fontaine (keys, Irish fife), Max Moro-Sibilot on bass and Ludo Moro-Sibilot on drums. Now, I am a huge Nemo fan but it is important to put any ideas of comparisons to one side as this is a very different offering altogether. They are often referred to as being progressive metal, and I understand why that would be the case but I am not sure that I would always agree with that term as they move between ‘normal’ prog (if there is such a thing) in the vein of Porcupine Tree into something much heavier altogether which is more metallic than the prog metal tag would tend to indicate. JP actually likens the band to Sabbath, and if we are talking about the later post-Dio period of that band then I can see where he is coming from.
The production is superb, and while everyone has a key role in this band, particularly Julian, it is the guitar that really stands out. There are some fine solos, and at other times some crunching riffs, but this is JP’s music. Unusually for a prog band, they close with a Sabbath cover, “Wheels of Confusion” which is from ‘Vol.4’. It has been cleaned up and has a psychedelic edge which is fun, so although it doesn’t contain the naivety of the original it is still extremely enjoyable. Makes a change from all of the ‘normal’ Sabbath covers as well.
All in all, just because you love Nemo don’t think that this is essential: this is a totally different band playing a different kind of music altogether. But if you want to hear some classic sounding riffs that feel that they have been brought straight from the Seventies through modern recording and production techniques into the present day then this is for you.
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