Year : 2017
Style : Progressive Metal
Country : Norway
Audio : 320 kbps + front + Video
Size : 239 mb
Bio:
Vicinity was founded in 2006 by Kim-Marius H. Olsen, Frode Lillevold and Kristian Nergård. Vocalist Alexander K. Lykke soon joined the blend making the first complete lineup. The band wrote and later recorded a demo in 2007 at Skansen Lydstudio in Trondheim, but it was the following year's recording of the EP "Diffusion of Innovation" that the band found it's true style, writing longer, more technical progressive compositions. The EP was recorded at Toproom Studios and mixed by Børge Finstad in one week, and released two years later (2010) by Pug-Nose Records.In 2012 the band felt they had written enough good songs to record their debut album; "Awakening". Drums were laid down in Trondheim Studio in february, and the following months bass, guitars and vocals were laid down, making this the debut recording of the new bass player Pierre-Nicolai H. Schmidt-Melbye, who joined the band following Nergård's departure in 2009. Reidulf Wormdal joined the recording as a session keyboard player to add a little extra spice to the mix.The album was mixed by André Alvnizi at Fascination Street Studios, and mastered by Jens Bogren, also at Fascination Street, and will be released by Indie Distribution and Pug-Nose Records, fall 2013.In time for the bands release concert in december 2013 the band was joined by Ivar Andreas Nyland on keyboards as a permanent member, finally completing Vicinitys lineup.In 2016 Vicinity signed with the Danish label Mighty Music, for a worldwide release of their second album "Recurrence", aiming for an April, 2017, release.
Album:
Progressive metal has gained major momentum in Norway - probably due in part to the impact of Pagan's Mind, Leprous, and Circus Maximus to name a few. Vicinity aims to add themselves to that list of must hear bands, as "Recurrence" is their second full-length and follow up to 2013's "Awakening". At six songs and over an hour in total, there's plenty to digest if you are a fan and follower of dynamic interaction between musicians, longer than normal instrumental sections, and diverse mood/tempo changes.The overall air about Vicinity has that lighter, melodic progressive metal feel - where the keyboards are as important as the guitar measures, and the rhythm section provides much of the energy pulsation through tight fills and seamless time signature juggling. "Phoenix" contains numerous floating keyboards over cascading, Alex Lifeson-ish guitars as vocalist Alexander K. Lykke glides through his multi-octave register that contains many AOR/progressive rock reference points (Threshold and Kansas coming to mind the most) - a thrilling 10-minute plus joyride. Commercial harmonies become front and center in the early verses of the follow up "Mountainfall", a musically adventurous affair that feels very circular to expand outwards between the dynamic drumming and stair step energy level of the composition - aligning themselves with Pagan's Mind and Threshold. Wisely breaking up many of the longer tracks with shorter affairs such as "Extinction" and "Immaterial Failure" proves Vicinity know how to tighten the progressive reigns while still being forward thinking - keyboardist Ivar Nyland and guitarist Kim-Marius H. Olsen twisting and turning in a playful manner though the former, as the latter explores more subdued, semi-ballad territory in lush overtones to allow Alexander the grace to hit a mid-range stride.The final song "The Long Goodbye" almost takes up a third of the record, a 22:26 sprawling epic that starts with piano and vocals (Steve Walsh would give kudos to the upper note boldness), shifting to an emotive guitar break before the full progressive metal extravaganza begins. Early Enchant memories sift in for the specific riffs and momentum of the arrangement - drummer Frode Lillevold channeling everything from Neil Peart to Mike Portnoy for his vast tool box of tricks, hits, and kicks. Pushing things to the limit lyrically as well, the cyclic nature of humanity is tested and questioned - ample food for thought to match the musical proceedings."Recurrence" deserves accolades for its superior talent base and ability to keep hooks in mind against all the musicianship at play. Vicinity are an impressive progressive metal band for sure.
Line-Up:
Pierre Nicolai Schmidt-Melbye Bass
Frode Lillevold Drums
Kim-Marius H. Olsen Guitars
Alexander K. Lykke Vocals
Ivar A. Nyland Keyboards (2013-present) - See also: Harsk, ex-Da Parteymakaz, ex-Gress
Tracklist:
01. The Unwritten Manifest
02. Phoenix
03. Mountainfall
04. Extinction
05. Immaterial Failure
06. The Long Goodbye
+ Video "Extinction" (Official Music Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
