Violent Silence - A Broken Truce

Now, when a new band in which they carry the spirit of the Progressive genre, I get a real kick out of it. And there is one of the most surprising bands who have been around since the beginning of the millennium, is a group from Sweden called Violent Silence. This is my introduction to their music and their new album released this year, has some structures in the realms of Symphonic Rock and Metal. And the songs that have a story in which it has a fantasy and adventurous journey's that the listener will embark on the moment they put on, A Broken Truce.

Each of the four compositions, are clocked in between 10, 11, and 15 minutes. So what you going to explore, is a magic carpet ride that you've never dreamed of. And an epic adventure, that is waiting for you to go into different worlds in various parts of different dimensions. Opener, Prism Path, is an uplifting waltz featuring a lot of classical piano and bits of the Moog Synthesizer, flown in the clouds to say hello and do some solos, it gives it a real jolt to start the album off with a roller-coaster ride with capability.

Rim of Clouds, has a calming turned into an eruptive composition. At first, it starts off with a relaxing pastoral symphony for the first three minutes and fifty-two seconds before it goes into a dramatic rumble between Bass, Synth and Drums that is at times, jaw-dropping and volcanic before going back into the comforting movement so that the instruments could get a chance to have their jets cooled off to give the vocals a chance to shine through. Still, the track is a centerpiece of using a lot of improvisations and different time signatures and a touch of Genesis during the sessions for The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

The Kingdom Below, which is based on the story, Journey to the West, that tells the story about Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, who had supernatural powers from the work of Taoism before being imprisoned by the Buddha and then years later, is accompanied by a Monk to travel to India, is set in the style of a rock opera. It has this '80s sound, but with a Metal twist. At first you think it's a guitar, doing this crazy solo, it's still the synthesizer by using almost a fuzz-tone sound to get that harder edge feel as it goes into this dance-like wildly movement in the midsection that is superficial and spellbinding, and very much relies on the story and staying true to it.

The closing title track, has some of the symphonic structures, but more jazzy at the same time to give it that warm sunrise for a new day and a new beginning. I have listen to A Broken Truce about six times already and Violent Silence's new album is one of the most mind-blowing albums to come out of 2013. And if you love early Genesis, Yes, and Starcastle, this is highly recommended!

The long awaited new Violent Silence has arrived, true to their former works (2 previous albums) this outing are keyboard based, with drums, bass and vocals. New vocalist Martin Ahlquist & founder member Johan Hedman- Drums de luxe, Keyboards and compositions- are the very core of this fine act! Not many prog act´s have dared to release albums without guitars (bar the bass guitar) no screaming or high flying soli. Let me mention a few that got away with it: Rare Bird (UK)/ Solution (Dutch) / Soft Machine (UK) / Greenslade (UK) not counting trio´s ELP/Triumvirat etc. etc.! This third release really is Violent Silence´s best effort to date with four fine compositions, all over the 10 minute mark duration, new vocalist Martin Ahlquist has a great voice with a warm, rich and clear tone which suits the music perfectly! The compositions are (as mentioned) all stretched over the ten minutes which allows the music to unfold in the most satisfying way, with some very wonderful keyboard themes that soars, twist´s and turn, backed excellently by Hedman´s Drums and solid bass playing Anders Lindskog, the band given plenty of time on each track to do their musical excursions before Ahlquist takes them back on ...ahem...track!! This is an excellent album for lovers (like yours truly) of keyboard drenched music, fine musicianship and superb vocals and vocal harmonies. The music herein is very dynamic without being overblown and energic without being forced! In short, I find it mesmerizing! This album goes straight to my list of the 10 best prog albums of the year!! Ignore this gem at your own peril!! I am saving half a star (the full 5 stars) for their (Hopefully) next album!!