Year : 2023
Style : Progressive Metal
Country : Australia
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 132 mb
Bio:
Taliesin is a prog metal band which formed in the mid 1990's in Canberra, Australia. The band humbly began when in mid 1995, when the two guitarists Richard Moseley and Rueben Durham met. The two shared an interest in progressive rock and metal (namely Dream Theater, Rush and Fates Warning) and began to play together shortly after meeting.Eventually, the two began songwriting, and the idea of a band came full circle, when the two began searching for more band members. The decision was eventually made to recruit musicians the band was already familiar with. Dave Howe (vocals), Kristern Nunney (bass) and Wayne Bateup (drums) were three such friends, and added their talents to the group.After several months of songwriting and jamming, Taliesin played their first gig in late 1997, and continued playing live throughout 1997 and 1998. A problem arose in early 1999, when Dave's work required him to travel around the country, leaving the band as a 4 piece, with Richard working as the vocalist. The band continued working, although in 2000 when Dave returned, Rueben moved location to the US, leaving the band yet again as a 4 piece, now with only one guitarist.Choosing to stay as a 4 piece group, the band decided to continue with the recording process. In 2002, the drums and bass were recorded for the band's debut, although the vocals and guitar took several years to fully record, due to work commitments. In 2006, the band contacted Henning Pauly (Frameshift/Chain) to ask for help in mastering and/or producing the EP. Opting for both, Henning also contributed a guitar solo and some brilliant keyboard work on the debut, which was eventually released in 2008.The band's sound is very similar to the archetypal prog metal bands, including Dream Theater, Pain Of Salvation and Fates Warning. Their first EP (The Tally Of Lies and Sin) is a great starting point for a small band, and can be enjoyed by fans of any of those bands, prog metal, or prog rock in general.
Album:
We already praised TALIESIN‘s last year’s album and it was awarded by many reputed magazines as well. If that supposes placing some pressure on their follow up work, then Taliesin didn’t get the message – their new album ”Disciple” is a shining release.Heavier and more progressive than its predecessor, this new nine-track album is an expansive piece of work, full of the modern sounding guitar work one associates with Tesseract. That is something of a surprise, given the band’s history dates to 1995 when the influences of Rush, Dream Theater and Fates Warning saw guitarist Richard Moseley and Rueben Durham first met in Canberra.Despite what you might think when first encountering this album, the songs are far catchier than might be expected. Intricate, cleverly delivered and beautifully structured, there are hooks and an anthemic quality on songs such “Blindfold” or “Burnt” which instantly capture the imagination and attention.The title track is the ideal introduction to the album, allowing the new listener to acquaint themselves with the band’s fluid and emotive style of play. This runs throughout the record, with Dave Howe’s rich, warm vocals a real highlight. The musicianship, as one might expect, is of the highest quality, with intricate passages of play, constant time, and tempo changes.“Custom of the Sea” highlights the band’s quality, with ample harmonies creating luscious melodies alongside the harder edge. There is some searing guitar work, and it presents without the virtuoso grandstanding that often occurs with bands of this genre. Indeed, much of the music is slightly understated, each instrument and musician allowed time to breath and play. You can hear everything that is happening.Whilst Taliesin have brought a heavier sound to their music, there is plenty of room for expansion. They can also play the simpler riffs to great effect as noted in the opening part of “God Damn Lies”, an epic that gets into gear quickly. It’s story telling of the highest order, with the keys provided by Moseley and Durham adding vital layers and textures.”Disciple” is a well balanced and weighted album. The longer tracks swoop places with shorter pieces, allowing the album to flow maintaining interest throughout and ensuring that there is space for each track to be fully absorbed.The eight-minute “Frustration” builds with a cinematic feel, the tension slowly increasing as the song develops. There’s no sense of urgency yet it still moves at pace, capturing the imagination of the listener as the duelling guitar work and rich melodies take centre stage.If you are a fan of cleverly written and perfectly performed prog metal (and much more) music, then it would be wrong for you to miss out on ”Disciple”. It’s an album that deserves plenty of attention and praise.Easily among the best Prog Albums appeared this year.
Line-Up:
Dave Howe - Vocals
Chris Turk - Bass - See also: Imperilment, ex-Beneath the Tides, ex-Myrddraal
Reuben Durham - Guitars
Richard Moseley - Guitars, Vocals
Wayne Bateup - Drums
Tracklist:
01. Disciple (8:53)
02. C.O.T.E (4:10)
03. Custom Of The Sea (5:30)
04. God Damn Lies (8:13)
05. Every Time I Close My Eyes (5:20)
06. Frustration (8:15)
07. Blindfold (6:44)
08. Burnt (4:19)
09. The Road (6:02)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
