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Born in the late 60's, Chesy hails from a Welsh mining village with a long name and was pretty glad when he got the Hell out of there. He got into Rock/Metal in about 1980, thanks to a TISWAS related incident (Rainbow video for All Night Long) and thankfully has never looked back. Chesy often sang solo in the school choir, but thanks to a puberty related incident his voice is now completely bolloxed, although in his own head Paul thinks he sounds like a blend of Coverdale and Dio (R.I.P). He was brought up on the classics - Deep Purple, Rainbow, Thin Lizzy, Rush, Whitesnake and loved melodic rock and the Hair Bands of the 80's. (Nowadays, he has progressed a little and prefers a more technical and/or progressive metal - Dream Theater, Rush, Symphony X, Porcupine Tree, Pain Of Salvation, Spock's Beard. He hates Black and Death Metal (can't stand the grunting) but for some unknown reason loves the magnificent Opeth! He wont stop this blog until his beloved FM finally play the likes of the NEC as a headlining act!!!

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Stealing Axion - Moments

 
Pacific Northwest’s Stealing Axion was formed in the winter of 2009 by guitarists Dan Forbrich, Josh
DeShazo, and Phil Willmarth. By early 2010 they self-recorded and released their EP which rapidly
spread across the net and garnered them tons of praise from fans and critics alike. With these songs
as a solid foundation, the band maintained a steady regiment of writing and developing their sound
and soon had enough material to serve as a full length album. The band was then contacted by Acle
Kahney (TesseracT guitarist and producer) about mixing and mastering the songs. Working closely 
with him on the sounds and textures of the album, Moments (the title of the band’s debut full
length) developed into a dynamic and immense listening experience. The album uniquely combines
the ferocity and rawness of modern metal with delicate and expansive atmospheres. The result is a sound  that is accessible while maintaining a detailed and complex framework.


 
One thing for certain, and that all off the songs offer up a different tale for the listener. But is one of those 50% Marmite moments for me. Musically the album is ‘most excellent’ (insert your own Wyld Stallyns GUITAR RIFF HERE), with some pretty ferocious riffs that will stir up many a mosh pit, then  segueing into an atmospheric passage which almost takes you by surprise, but it’s the mix of two contrasting vocal styles, screamy and grunty one minute, and calm, collected, and (normal) melodic the next that I struggle with. Me? I prefer the latter style, obviously. 

As prog bands go, they have all the attributes of making a success for themselves. They've been signed by Inside Out Music, a label that knows a thing or two about prog music and truly spans the generation of prog – from Kansas & Pallas, to Devin Townsend & Riverside. They are in good company.



With the ‘good cop/bad cop’ vocalisation, Stealing Axion are doing nothing new, but the music sets them apart from their competition. Influenced by the likes if Dream Theater, SA have a decent foundation. The album unusually has a much stronger second half, and, thankfully for me, Stealing Axion get a grip, and find their mojo. The reason being that there’s more of a melodic metal influence in songs such as 'Eventide' and 'Collapse', and none more so than on the mighty fine 'Sleepless' (complete with minimal growly, grunty moments than the rest!). Even 'Too Late Now', a prog ballad of sorts has its defining moments.

So, the second half of the album has a bit more in its locker than the first, with Stealing Axion finding more of their progressive feet. Whilst it’s not my cup of tea, no doubt Moments will have many a prog fan rushing and possibly gushing after it

70/100

 Track Listing:

1 Mirage Of Hope
2 Solar
3 Everything Or Nothing
4 47 Days Later
5 The Unwanted Gift
6 Eventide
7 Collapse
8 It's Too Late Now
9 Sleepless
10 Moments Part 1
11 Moments Part 2

Line up:

Dan Forbrich – Vocals, guitar
Josh DeShazo – Vocals, guitars
Phil Willmarth – Vocals, bass
Blake Ferris – Drums
 
Discography:

Moments (2012)
 
Online:

stealingaxion.com
facebook.com/stealingaxion
http://soundcloud.com/stealingaxion

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