Echoes

Viene dal Venezuela ed ha ben 3 chitarristi nella line up, più uno che ogni tanto si aggiunge a loro oltre che a dedicarsi alle tastiere, questo giovane gruppo che prende il nome di Echoes e che è all'esordio discografico con il disco 'Nature | Existence'. Il gruppo, nato come strumentale e con all'attivo una buona gavetta nel proprio paese, tenta il grande salto proponendoci un album basato sull'evolversi della vita, dove spesso quello che è considerata una fine di una storia (o di una vita, una relazione, etc.) è il punto di partenza di un'altra (da qui i titoli nella tracklist che partono con un epilogo e finiscono con un prologo). Per fare ciò si sono affidati oltre che alle proprie doti musicali anche all'aiuto di 4 vocalist diversi che si alternano traccia dopo traccia dietro al microfono, oltre alla produzione ed il mixaggio di gente come Ola Sonmark e Svante Försbäck conosciuti per aver lavorato rispettivamente con i Within Temptation e gli Apocalyptica.

Inserendo il disco nel lettore CD del nostro stereo possiamo subito notare che i ragazzi sudamericani ricalcano un prog metal che miscela molto dei cruppi più famosi: dai Pain Of Salvation ai Dream Theater nelle linee più melodiche e sinfoniche, il tutto infarcito di un sano spirito delle sonorità dell'america del sud. Il risultato è qualcosa che non ci si aspetta sempre da un primo lavoro: il disco scorre ottimamente per tutti i suoi 50 minuti e colpisce per le ottime tracce che vi sono racchiuse all'interno. I brani, sia nelle parti strumentali che in quelle cantate, sanno colpire dal primo all'ultimo e mettono in mostra un gruppo che tecnicamente ha ben poco da invidiare ai riferimenti del genere. Ogni pezzo racconta la sua storia e lo fa mettendo a suo agio l'ascoltatore che non può che rimanere soddisfatto del fatto di aver dato fiducia a questo nuovo gruppo.

Il consiglio definitivo se amate il prog metal melodico non può che essere quello di correre a comprare questo 'Nature | Existence' perché si tratta di una delle migliori uscite del genere in questa prima parte dell'anno e potrà essere un vostro compagno fedele per un bel po' tempo. Un plauso anche alla Progrock Record che anche questa volta ha saputo vedere bene ed ha permesso agli Echoes di portare la propria musica alle orecchie del pubblico europeo.

Un esordio coi fiocchi. Compratelo. - Hardsounds.it

Après avoir eu le plaisir de chroniquer l’excellent « Imago » délivré par les colombiens de Nova Orbis, ne voilà pas que tombe dans mon escarcelle un album dénommé Nature / Existence surgi de nulle part. Enfin presque, car comme tout amateur de Prog se devrait de le faire en surveillant les sorties à venir chez ProgRock Records, cette arrivée de la première offrande des Vénézuéliens d’Echoes était une véritable curiosité. Ne serait ce déjà que parce lorsque l’on parle de ce pays, les stéréotypes ou clichés nous venant immédiatement à l’esprit auront pour nom Amazonie, Hugo Chavez, ou encore Pétro dollars. Et qu’à fortiori musicalement on s’attendra plutôt à du folklore traditionnel, des rythmes latins, ou une mixité Pop/Rock à la sauce locale, à des années lumières des Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Genesis ou autres Opeth semblant avoir inspiré le combo de Caracas.

Autant dire que ces idées préconçues seront en totales inéquations pour s’essayer à la découverte et dégustation des douze titres proposés par les autochtones du Miranda dont la genèse remonte à fin 2004. En effet, l’entité musicale d’Echoes se révèlera immédiatement comme héritière du Folk des années 70, bercée par le Prog/rock des nineties, et nuancée de certaines facettes Metal contemporaines. Seules les utilisations occasionnelles d’un Cuatro (sorte de ukelele), de nimbes de piano, ou d’un saxophone sur « Despair » (Dave Duffus de Winds of Dread) vous mettront au palais un gout un tant soi peu exotique. Car l’univers et le voyage féerique et emphatique proposés tiendront tout simplement de ce qui se fait de mieux actuellement, tant dans la mélodicité et la composition , que dans la production. Cette dernière profitant dans le cheminement, enregistrement, mixage, mastering de pointures comme Ola Sonmark (Within Temptation, The Law, Godgory), Svante Försbäck (Callisto, Velcra, Apocalyptica), ou encore Stefan Schneider (Cantata Sangui, Irradiant, Collapsing System).

Echoes, mise à part sa nationalité, possède en outre deux spécificités toutes particulières. Compter trois guitaristes (Cantata Sangui possède bien deux bassistes…) sur les six membres du line-up, et néanmoins ne pas avoir de chanteur titulaire. S’y colleront donc avec une réussite certaine, Tobias Jansson de « Silent Scythe », Nick Storr de « The Third Ending » ou encore Carl Webb et Pedro Castillos. Avouons que ce casting surprenant ou les lignes vocales sont confiées à divers guests sera encore un plus à l’appréciation, tout comme la présence et la collaboration du « Anechoic Chamber String Quartet ».

Le voyage épique et progressif proposé, assénant tel un ressac inexorable, sera un pur régal auditif. Le trident inaugural composé de l’ « Epilogue », « Rude Awakening » et « Leaf Motif », vous laissera bouche bée et conquis sans rémission possible. Aisés d’accès et d’assimilation, ces trois titres s’imbriquant et découlant tout naturellement les uns des autres, ne pourront que passionner, captiver et ensorceler. De l’esthétisme existentiel et énergétique -un des défauts du Prog étant parfois le coté mollasson perdurant- qui sidérera et laissera viscéralement conquis et sous le charme. Peu adepte du titre par titre, disons juste que les deux instrumentaux suivants « Lullaby » et « Bonfires » seront divins.dans la droite lignée du meilleur des Dream Theater précédemment cités. Le « Unfair » -marquant la moitié de l’album- étant en mon intime conviction le meilleur titre d’une tracklist ne s’affadissant jamais et devenant de surcroit graduellement plus compliquée d’assimilation. Se dévoilant ainsi tel un kaléidoscope facétieux d’une ultime richesse, les structures mélodiques toujours ciselées et caviardées de finesse allieront dans ce Nature / Existence à la fois l’appréciation immédiate et celle plus sophistiquée du fur et à mesure des auditions.

Au final, ce premier album se verra incontestablement affublé de l’étiquette « Pur bonheur ». Le genre d’offrande à ne manquer sous aucun prétexte et dont le plaisir délivré ne s’arrêtera pas au bout de quelques écoutes, mais perdura dans le temps. Echoes maitrise son sujet à tous les niveaux, et n’a rein à envier à quelques pointures du genre que ce soit. Même si l’influence précitée, ou celle d’un Vanden Plas par ailleurs, est sous jacente ; l’unicité du combo est bien réelle et hautement raffinée. Les vénézuéliens s’affirmeront à mi chemin de leurs confrères d’écurie « Dead Heroes Club » et « Jupiter Society », ProgRock Records s’y entendant actuellement pour nous abreuver de purs brulots et joyaux en faisant le leader incontestable du Prog de notre planète Metal. Primordial pour tous les aficionados du Prog, et à découvrir pour ceux ne l’étant pas afin d’en saisir tout les attraits, subtilités et richesses d’un genre n’étant pas près de se tarir.

Dieu que la mondialisation a des avantages… - Soil Chronicles

High class Progressive Metal we got here. This is the debut album by Echoes from Venezuela. Formed in 2004, in country where ethnic music is more popular somehow, Echoes is nothing more and nothing less than a big surprise. Would you ever expect to listen a Prog Metal band from Venezuela? Well I would say no…
From 70s Progressive Rock to 90s Progressive Metal the band is creating magnificent and inspired music. Three guitars, six string bass, drums, percussion, keyboards plus slide guitar are creating piece by piece this very special and unique puzzle of Echoes. The band also recruited several guest vocalists, the gifted saxophonist Dave Duffus (Winds of Dread, Despair) and a chamber string quartet (Farewell). Well I guess that you should be able to get an idea of the richness of music that is hidden in this little diamond.
Melodic, complex, adventures, emotional and ecstatic Progressive Metal music carrying all the Power and passion that this music should have: This is what Echoes are offering to the listener. They are also importing many folk and ethnic features into their music. We can take as an example the "cuatro" which is a traditional Venezuelan folk instrument similar to an ukulele.
Diving deep into the concept of this album we can point an Epilogue as the beginning of a new experience… An Epilogue is where all starts... and in the case of Echoes we got a magical musical trip already started… a trip full of emotions: passion, love, sorrow, nostalgia and melancholy…everything is now turned to music touched by the magic hand of this band. - Metal Invader

Nature / Existence is the impressive debut album from this Venezuelan collective who are based around a sextet of musicians which is further expanded by four guest vocalists - Carl Webb ('Oceanworks'), Tobias Jansson ('The Law', 'Silent Scythe'), Nick Storr ('The Third Ending') and Pedro Castillo ('Tempano/Aditus') - a smattering of saxophone and, on one composition, a Chamber String Quartet. And in keeping with the bands Latin origins they also incorporate traditional folk music, backed up by the appearance of a cuatro (a traditional Venezuelan folk instrument similar to a ukulele, apparently). Emerging back in 2005 and being welcomed in their prog-starved homeland, Echoes have taken their time in crafting their debut opus and, without the burden of expectation that can hamper releases by established artists, it proves to have been well worth the wait.
Prog metal that veers towards the mellow and melodic, Nature / Existence is weaved around an abstract concept that (in the great tradition of The Wall) ends up going full circle with thte first piece entitled "Epilogue" and the closing number "Prologue"). Mixed by Ola Sonmark (Within Temptation) and mastered by Svante Försbäck (Apocalyptica) this comes with a huge sound, packing a punch during the aggressive riffing of "Rude Awakening" and choppy instrumental "Bonfires" in particular. To single out one or two songs does the rest a disservice as there is a strong coherence about the whole piece, despite the varied styles of the vocalists, but the aching melancholia of "Winds of Dread" is a real highlight that springs to life with the sax solo and conveys an atmosphere of loss and despair. Elsewhere, the shimmering vibe of "Leaf Motif" blends lush vocals, ambient keys and a stirring melody against a backdrop of industrial riffs.

On the evidence of their first effort, Echoes clearly have the potential to evolve into something special. Innovative, sophisticated and inspired, this is one band that should be on the radar of prog fans old and new. - Sea of Tranquility

I'm not sure were the line is, if there is one, that makes progressive metal either ingenious or merely derivative, but Venezuelan band Echoes is definitely in the former camp. Nature/Existence, their debut work on ProgRock Records, borders on near flawless genius, a disc of pure progressive metal brilliance.

Formed in 2004, in country where ethnic rhythms and pop/rock are more prevalent, Echoes was an eccentricity and sometime phenomena, being the first instrumental band to win at the national "Alma Mater" Rock Festival. Drawing upon the important roots of 70's to 90's prog with rock and metal, Echoes was determined to mix ethnic traditions into their music. By example, the band incorporates the "cuatro," a traditional Venezuelan folk instrument similar to an ukulele, into their already deep ensemble of three guitars, six-string bass, keyboards, and drums. Additionally, for Nature/Existence Echoes recruited several (exceptional) guest vocalists, the gifted saxophonist Dave Duffus (Winds of Dread, Despair), and a chamber string quartet (Farewell). The result is that Nature/Existence builds upon and spans everything from Pink Floyd to Dream Theater to even 3 or Muse, only to sound immensely original and entertaining.

Working on a theme of love found and lost over the cyclical nature of life, Nature/Existence spins common interpretation making the Epilogue the beginning of a new experience and breakups are the Prologue to life shifting again. Confused? Don't be. Within and in between, Echoes weaves an inviting and ingenious score which juxtaposes immense and diverse musical movements with emotions of passion, love, melancholy, and sorrow. Echoes can do this in grand form in more lengthy pieces like Leaf Motif or Unfair. Yet the music packed into the brilliant smaller pieces such as Bonfires, Farewell, or the absolutely magnificent (and Floydish) Winds of Dread are pure prog magic.

Honestly, I can't say enough about Echoes's Nature/Existence as there were times, when listening, I found words failing me in description. Nature/Existence is a true progressive metal delight, a work of singular accomplishment by which others, past and current peers, could easily be judged. I know it's too early in the year, but Nature/Existence is on my (very) short list of best prog albums of the year. It is that good! Highly recommended! - Dangerdog Music Reviews