Year : 2015
Style : Progressive Metal , Progressive Rock
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + front + Video
Size : 171 mb
Bio:
ODIN’S COURT is a Maryland, USA band that was formed by Matt Brookins in 2001. The band is best described as rock & metal, fusing classic and modern sounds that transcend several genres. They have released 4 CDs worldwide and done touring in the United States. The band is always looking to expand their reach, and is constantly evolving and growing their music.For 12 years the band has been fronted by Brookins, who provides a unique voice that often sets the band apart from others in their genre. In 2013, the band picked up an additional lead vocalist name Dimetrius LaFavors; with a voice more reminiscent of classic vocalists in the rock, metal, and progressive genres, he and Brookins are already proving to have an exciting “call and response” approach to the music. Brookins also performs on various other instruments as needed, doubling as band producer. Rick Pierpont, an infectious presence on stage, offers an excellent contrast on guitar to Brookins’ often more melodic and phrase oriented style.For the first 7 years the band was independent, self-financing 3 albums (2002 demo Odin’s Court, 2003 album Driven by Fate, and 2005 album ReDriven by Fate). In 2006 the band headlined the infamous Jaxx Nightclub near Washington DC, drawing an audience comparable to that of larger National acts that played at the venue. A DVD was filmed that night and later released under the title …Court is Now in Session.In 2008, ODIN’S COURT signed with ProgRock Records, and has since released 4 albums through PRR and their partner labels worldwide.Deathanity (2008) is an ambitious concept album analyzing the macroscopic effects mankind’s actions have on the planet. In addition to a traditional rock configuration, this album utilizes saxophone, female backing vocals, interview clips, and sound effects to create a vast soundscape. Special guest vocalists include Tom Englund (Evergrey) and Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica).Human Life in Motion (2011) is an album that is both introspective and personal, dealing with the human mind and experience. Although it is a concept album, the songs are more self-contained, shorter, and more “accessible” when compared to Deathanity. Press reaction to the album was positive, summarized as the band being “in top form and offering imaginative & entertaining melodic progressive rock often blended with crunchy metal.Appalachian Court (2012) is an organic album featuring previously released songs with completely new arrangements. The album features a wide range of traditional acoustic instruments including acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano, double bass, mountain dulcimer, banjo, harmonica, squaresaw dobro, and acoustic drums. The album creatively blends acoustic music with the band’s diverse sound in a way that seems both natural and exciting.The Warmth of Mediocrity (2013) is the first album to feature LaFavors along and Brookins on lead vocals. The title track showcases a new and focused sound for the band, while the remaining tracks make the album an anthology, as these tracks are “reboots” of previously released songs that have been remixed, remastered, and in several cases, feature newly recorded vocals from LaFavors.
Album:
There is an old story in the worlds of physics and metaphysics (very different things, by the way) about a confrontation between a scientist and what we will call a layperson. They were debating the origin of the universe, when she proposes that the world sits atop the back of a giant turtle. The scientist asks the obvious question, what is below the turtle? She scoffs, as the the question is ridiculous. The answer, she says, is another turtle. In fact, it's turtles all the way down.Albums don't often attempt to take on material quite as weighty as the very existence of the universe, but that story is the through-line underpinning the new Odin's Court album, which takes progressive metal down the rabbit hole, seeing just how many turtles there are holding up this blue marble we're trapped on. [Am I the only person who, every time I think of that concept, wants to believe it's actually Dr. Suess' creation, and we sit atop Yertle?]After the first part of the triptych title track, “And The Answer Is...” kicks off the proper songs with a bang, mixing crunching metal riffs with smoothly melodic vocals. New singer Dimetrius LaFavors rises above the music, his voice a solid expression of what you would expect from progressive metal of this kind. The section with call and response backing vocals is beautiful, but the song is more in service of the concept than existing on its own. Everything about it is good, but the lack of a repeating hook works with the overall concept, but makes it a tough way to open the album.The song segues into its second half, “...But What's The Question”, which was released as the teaser for the album. This song is even better, with a few crushing riffs, some soaring solos, and a chorus that sticks with you. This half of the song is impressive, and raises the expectations for the rest of the album.What I appreciate most about this kind of progressive metal is that, while dealing with concepts and heady material, the music itself stays firmly rooted in traditional heavy metal. The mix of technical soloing with riffs and rhythms that are familiar to people without advanced music degrees is one that pays off, both in terms of reflecting the diversity of the universe being pondered, and in terms of making the album easier for listeners to get into. Too often, progressive metal bands race through demanding riffs one after the other, with little thought to whether any of it makes sense to people who haven't broken it down note by note on staff paper. This music does.The highlight of the album is the lead playing of Matt Brookings and Rick Pierpont, of which there is plenty. Both in the breaks in songs, and the several instrumentals, they take turns playing richly melodic solos that more often than not make the absence of vocals more of a curiosity than an issue. Not many guitarists who don't specialize in instrumental music can take the reigns for that long without losing my patience, but these guys do a fine job of structuring their solos as actual songs, giving you something to come back to and remember besides a flashy run of notes.Five instrumental pieces might bit much, because the songs themselves deliver. A song like “The Warmth Of Mediocrity” is a great little piece of laid-back melodic metal that takes advantage of the band's ability to layer in backing vocals. When there are songs this engaging, the choice to not focus on those abilities is a bit frustrating.The album culminates in the 17 minute “Box Of Dice (Does God Play?)”, which is where the band flexes their progressive muscles. Across five movements, the band throws in their most intricate playing, some great guitar/keyboard solo duels, and plenty of beautiful melodies to go along. The song is, really, everything you'd expect good progressive metal to be. It showcases everything Odin's Court is capable of, while wrapping it up in a veneer that is still accessible for the listener. It's a great song, and the only way the album could have been ended.Overall, “Turtles All The Way Down” is a very good album, but I can't say it's without flaws. There are some wonderful songs on the album, and the overall approach is one that I admire, but I can't escape the feeling that the album got tripped up a bit by the concept. Condensing the instrumentals into two tracks, to reduce the breakup of the songs, would have been a help. There's just a bit too much starting and stopping through the listening experience for my tastes. The main songs get better and better as the album progresses, and it's just a shame there are a few things standing in the way of them being highlighted as much as they could be. I like “Turtles All The Way Down” quite a bit, so don't let that sound like any major criticism. It's just a bit of constructive advice from someone who thinks a good album could have been made even greater.
Line Up:
Matt Brookins - guitars, keyboards, vocals, bass, drums, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, mountain dulcimer
Rick Pierpont - guitars, vocals
Dimetrius Lafavors - vocals
Jeff Sauber - drums, percussion
Seth Jackson - bass
With:
Craig Jackson - bass (13)
Savino Palumbo - keyboards (13)
John Abella, Micki Brookins, and Matt Knight - additional voices for changes and choir vocals (6, 11, 13)
Tracklist:
01. Turtles All the Way Down, Pt. 1 (3:14)
02. And the Answer Is. (4:22)
03. .But What's the Question? (4:54)
04. Insomnia (3:40)
05. The Depths of Reason (3:11)
06. Turtles All the Way Down, Pt. 2 (1:41)
07. The Warmth of Mediocrity (4:10)
08. (A Song for) Dragons (4:59)
09. The Death of a Sun (5:00)
10. Back Where the Daffodils Grow (2:19)
11. Life's Glory (4:31)
12. Turtles All the Way Down, Pt. 3 (1:39)
13. Box of Dice (Does God Play?) (17:24)
+ Video "...But What's the Question?" [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
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