Sunday, June 18, 2017

L’ Ira del Baccano- Paradox Hourglass (Subsound Records SSR052CD)



This is the 2nd album by the 4 piece instrumental Italian band.  I really liked the last one a lot so was quite looking forward to hear this one.  The album features four long tracks staring off with the title track, Part 1.  This track features some pretty intense drumming (or maybe it feels that way because the drums are mixed quite high in the mix). The two guitars weave in and out of some interesting paths, with sections of solos or noisy a bit psychedelic bits. Occasionally, they are synthesizers as well. Ivan lays down some great bass lines also. Cool track. Part 2 of the Paradox Hourglass, No Razor for Ocam, is a more heavy metallic track in nature, later there is a short spacey section, then back into the heavy theme. Abilene (The trip to.) is next. IT starts slow and melodic but soon a heavy riff kicks in.. There are so many changes and riffs in these songs, they must be really hard to remember. The band must rehearse a lot!! Anyway.. back to Abilene, the mid section is really nice and spacey and relaxing and I really wish they had kept this going a bit longer with a nice melodic guitar solo after the spacey synths and e-bow guitar before going heavy again. Oh well. Later, the synthesizer takes the lead role while the heavy riff continues and they take this out to the end. The Blind Phoenix Rises is the closing track on the album. This is a pretty doomy track and a bit slower and also by far the shortest, almost feels like it’s incomplete.. Anyway, another very cool album with so many changes in it. Please check them out…

I really liked the album a lot but the drums are mixed a bit too high for my taste, especially the snare drum at time, it really annoyed me.  Sounds like they pushed the drums too hard in the mastering, maybe?  Amazing artwork  by Fabio Listrani.  Cool stuff..




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