(SIC)MONIC - "Somnambulist" - REVIEWS
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http://www.friedhof-magazine.com/friedhof-magazine.php
(Sic)Monic (United States of America)
"Somnambulist" - CD (2010)
Sello: Aural Music
Género: Metal Inclasificable
7.75 / 10
[(Sic)Monic 'Somnambulist']
Buf, esta reseña me va a costar lo suyo... Y todo porque me enfrento a un grupo de la clase tobogánico, capaces de mezclar casi todos los géneros de Metal -y mucho más- en su sonido. Así que para no poner 10 géneros distintos y despistar al personal, he decidido catalogarlo con la etiqueta que más se les acerca: Metal Inclasificable.
Empezaré por presentarlos. (Sic)Monic salen de Phoenix, Arizona. Su primer trabajo, Look to the Skies capturó la atención de Aural Music que les ha producido este disco, titulado, Somnambulist. Para la gente que ya haya escuchado grupos como Heavy Heavy Low Low o mis queridos Between the Buried and Me, les diré que este disco es aun mucho más raro y caótico que cualquiera de los trabajos de esas bandas. Para los oyentes no acostumbrados a la clase de grupos que tienen unas cuantas influencias de géneros muy dispares, que se preparen y abran su mente, porque esto que les viene encima es de órdago.
Un servidor, más o menos acostumbrado a esta clase de grupos raretes, ha tenido que tener bastante paciencia y tras varias escuchas al CD (y un par de tilas), ha podido finalmente enfrentarse a esta reseña.
Para meteros en situación, quiero que os imaginéis como sería una banda que mezclase esto: Death, Progresivo, Hardcore, Black Metal, Avantgarde, Industrial, Groove Metal, Heavy, Nu Metal, Rock, Jazz... Y ahora que os he dejado con cara de pez, intentaremos unir todas esas influencias en una sola. ¿Raro no? Mucho. Lo cierto es que podría citaros una serie de grupos que podrían influenciar a esta gente, pero lo mejor es que toméis vosotros mismos contacto con ellos en su myspace, porque pillar este disco a ciegas es un suicidio. Para que lo entendáis, la experimentación por ejemplo de los System of a Dawn (con los que comparten, además de influencias, un tono rapeado de voz parecido) es muy limitada en comparación a esta gente.
Musicalmente se puede decir que son unos fenómenos. Tíos capaces de mezclar un combo así y que suene bien y no sea un completo caos, tienen que saber tocar bien por narices. La buena producción ayuda a que aun sonando las partes más caóticas se aprecie bien todos los instrumentos. Vocalmente son muy variados, con registros que van desde los limpios a lo Aaron Lewis de Staind hasta los más gritones e histriónicos que recuerdan mucho a las bandas más caóticas Japonesas. Joder, el que pone esas voces tiene que tener la garganta tocada a estas alturas, porque se deja la piel. Eso sí, esas voces rapeadas -y son unas cuantas- personalmente me las hubiese ahorrado (así como todo ese regustillo de Nu Metal que se aprecia en algunos momentos).
El grupo es tan variado que lo mismo escuchamos partes machaconas de Death Metal, partes Groovies con toques Hardcore, junto a partes de Metal limpio, Progresivas y Avantgarde y otras con componentes de Rock acústico con alguna dosis Pop. Vamos, que será difícil aburrirse con algo así. Sobre todo, lo que más impacta es que semejante contraste de estilos tenga cabida aquí. La verdad es que no es nada fácil digerir todo esto. Para escuchar Somnambulist hay que ser muy abierto de mente en esto del Metal -y Rock-, y no llevarse las manos a la cabeza cuando escuchemos partes épicas en plan Staind, luego unas rapeadas con bases Groovies y al rato estemos oyendo una parte extrema. ¿Quin decía que ya no había innovación? Tiene que ser un espectáculo ver a esta gente en directo.
El disco viene con 15 Temas en total. En realidad son 11 pero el grupo nos obsequia con 4 Bonus Tracks. Así que la duración del mismo es considerable, la friolera cifra de casi 75 minutos. En cuanto a los temas en sí, irá sobre gustos. Cada uno de ellos es un pequeño mundo.
No sé que toman los americanos, pero lo cierto es que comen aparte del resto del mundo, porque es en los USA donde suelen salir este tipo de bandas (¡Cuanto ha influido Mike Patton!). Por mi parte, y aunque es un trabajo de bastante calidad, creo que voy a darme un respiro en cuanto a creatividad por un tiempo...
(Sic)Monic (United States of America)
"Somnambulist" - CD (2010)
Sello: Aural Music
Género: Metal Inclasificable
7.75 / 10
[(Sic)Monic 'Somnambulist']
Buf, esta reseña me va a costar lo suyo... Y todo porque me enfrento a un grupo de la clase tobogánico, capaces de mezclar casi todos los géneros de Metal -y mucho más- en su sonido. Así que para no poner 10 géneros distintos y despistar al personal, he decidido catalogarlo con la etiqueta que más se les acerca: Metal Inclasificable.
Empezaré por presentarlos. (Sic)Monic salen de Phoenix, Arizona. Su primer trabajo, Look to the Skies capturó la atención de Aural Music que les ha producido este disco, titulado, Somnambulist. Para la gente que ya haya escuchado grupos como Heavy Heavy Low Low o mis queridos Between the Buried and Me, les diré que este disco es aun mucho más raro y caótico que cualquiera de los trabajos de esas bandas. Para los oyentes no acostumbrados a la clase de grupos que tienen unas cuantas influencias de géneros muy dispares, que se preparen y abran su mente, porque esto que les viene encima es de órdago.
Un servidor, más o menos acostumbrado a esta clase de grupos raretes, ha tenido que tener bastante paciencia y tras varias escuchas al CD (y un par de tilas), ha podido finalmente enfrentarse a esta reseña.
Para meteros en situación, quiero que os imaginéis como sería una banda que mezclase esto: Death, Progresivo, Hardcore, Black Metal, Avantgarde, Industrial, Groove Metal, Heavy, Nu Metal, Rock, Jazz... Y ahora que os he dejado con cara de pez, intentaremos unir todas esas influencias en una sola. ¿Raro no? Mucho. Lo cierto es que podría citaros una serie de grupos que podrían influenciar a esta gente, pero lo mejor es que toméis vosotros mismos contacto con ellos en su myspace, porque pillar este disco a ciegas es un suicidio. Para que lo entendáis, la experimentación por ejemplo de los System of a Dawn (con los que comparten, además de influencias, un tono rapeado de voz parecido) es muy limitada en comparación a esta gente.
Musicalmente se puede decir que son unos fenómenos. Tíos capaces de mezclar un combo así y que suene bien y no sea un completo caos, tienen que saber tocar bien por narices. La buena producción ayuda a que aun sonando las partes más caóticas se aprecie bien todos los instrumentos. Vocalmente son muy variados, con registros que van desde los limpios a lo Aaron Lewis de Staind hasta los más gritones e histriónicos que recuerdan mucho a las bandas más caóticas Japonesas. Joder, el que pone esas voces tiene que tener la garganta tocada a estas alturas, porque se deja la piel. Eso sí, esas voces rapeadas -y son unas cuantas- personalmente me las hubiese ahorrado (así como todo ese regustillo de Nu Metal que se aprecia en algunos momentos).
El grupo es tan variado que lo mismo escuchamos partes machaconas de Death Metal, partes Groovies con toques Hardcore, junto a partes de Metal limpio, Progresivas y Avantgarde y otras con componentes de Rock acústico con alguna dosis Pop. Vamos, que será difícil aburrirse con algo así. Sobre todo, lo que más impacta es que semejante contraste de estilos tenga cabida aquí. La verdad es que no es nada fácil digerir todo esto. Para escuchar Somnambulist hay que ser muy abierto de mente en esto del Metal -y Rock-, y no llevarse las manos a la cabeza cuando escuchemos partes épicas en plan Staind, luego unas rapeadas con bases Groovies y al rato estemos oyendo una parte extrema. ¿Quin decía que ya no había innovación? Tiene que ser un espectáculo ver a esta gente en directo.
El disco viene con 15 Temas en total. En realidad son 11 pero el grupo nos obsequia con 4 Bonus Tracks. Así que la duración del mismo es considerable, la friolera cifra de casi 75 minutos. En cuanto a los temas en sí, irá sobre gustos. Cada uno de ellos es un pequeño mundo.
No sé que toman los americanos, pero lo cierto es que comen aparte del resto del mundo, porque es en los USA donde suelen salir este tipo de bandas (¡Cuanto ha influido Mike Patton!). Por mi parte, y aunque es un trabajo de bastante calidad, creo que voy a darme un respiro en cuanto a creatividad por un tiempo...
http://www.silentscreamzine.com/ReviewShow.asp?ReviewsID=7830
Questi (Sic)Monic sono il classico gruppo mappazza che mescola diverse influenze e che, probabilmente, cerca di mostrarsi originale a tutti i costi (basti vedere che razza di nome sono andati a cercarsi: non si capisce nemmeno se si scriva con o senza parentesi!). In realtà, procedendo un po' a cricchio nella congerie di rimandi che si manifestano da questo disco, è possibile chiamare in causa band come: i System Of A Down, per certi passaggi vocali ed alcuni cambi di tempo; i Meshuggah, per certe sgorbiezze ritmiche non disgiunte da una distorsione gravissima; i Mudvayne, in tutti i frangenti in cui l'andamento spezzato, l'interpretazione del singer o l'incedere del basso ci ricordano più da vicino la vecchia, gloriosa (ma dove?) ondata 'nu metal'. Poi, certo, ci sono anche stacchi panteriani, evoluzioni di chiara matrice metal-core, palesi rimandi al metallo estremo, oltre ad una sfumatura di fusion e ad una spolverata di prog, talvolta anche nelle frequenti melodie vocali; e direi che nella descrizione ci possiamo tranquillamente fermare qui. Il pregio di un disco come Somnambulist è che, nonostante gli intenti siano a volte troppo cerebrali e persino forzati, i brani conservano una loro intima coerenza ed una non trascurabile identità di fondo: insomma, sarà pur vero che i (Sic)Monic fanno i furbetti e cercano di arruffianarsi tutti gli ascoltatori assetati di musica fuori dai canoni, ma è anche vero che riescono nell'intento con grande naturalezza ed un non trascurabile grado di facilità. In altri termini: se spesso i gruppi che vogliono fare i ricercati a tutti i costi ci scoglionano alla grande, questi giovani americani mostrano invece di avere una certa stoffa.
Dario Adile
Questi (Sic)Monic sono il classico gruppo mappazza che mescola diverse influenze e che, probabilmente, cerca di mostrarsi originale a tutti i costi (basti vedere che razza di nome sono andati a cercarsi: non si capisce nemmeno se si scriva con o senza parentesi!). In realtà, procedendo un po' a cricchio nella congerie di rimandi che si manifestano da questo disco, è possibile chiamare in causa band come: i System Of A Down, per certi passaggi vocali ed alcuni cambi di tempo; i Meshuggah, per certe sgorbiezze ritmiche non disgiunte da una distorsione gravissima; i Mudvayne, in tutti i frangenti in cui l'andamento spezzato, l'interpretazione del singer o l'incedere del basso ci ricordano più da vicino la vecchia, gloriosa (ma dove?) ondata 'nu metal'. Poi, certo, ci sono anche stacchi panteriani, evoluzioni di chiara matrice metal-core, palesi rimandi al metallo estremo, oltre ad una sfumatura di fusion e ad una spolverata di prog, talvolta anche nelle frequenti melodie vocali; e direi che nella descrizione ci possiamo tranquillamente fermare qui. Il pregio di un disco come Somnambulist è che, nonostante gli intenti siano a volte troppo cerebrali e persino forzati, i brani conservano una loro intima coerenza ed una non trascurabile identità di fondo: insomma, sarà pur vero che i (Sic)Monic fanno i furbetti e cercano di arruffianarsi tutti gli ascoltatori assetati di musica fuori dai canoni, ma è anche vero che riescono nell'intento con grande naturalezza ed un non trascurabile grado di facilità. In altri termini: se spesso i gruppi che vogliono fare i ricercati a tutti i costi ci scoglionano alla grande, questi giovani americani mostrano invece di avere una certa stoffa.
Dario Adile
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=271034
4/5
SOMNAMBULIST
Sicmonic
Tech/Extreme Prog Metal
Somnambulist is the second full-length studio album by American, Phoenix, Arizona based progressive metal act Sicmonic. The band released their debut full-length studio album Look to the Skies in August 2006. Look to the Skies was released independently and Somnambulist was meant to be released independently too. Aural Music signed Sicmonic before the band began distributing the only 1000 copies that were pressed of the original version, which should make the original version a pretty rare collectors item. The official Aural Music version of Somnambulist, which is the one I´m in possession of, features new cover artwork and four additional bonus tracks taken from Look to the Skies.The music on Somnambulist is a pretty eclectic mix of various metal/ rock genres. There are strong ties to progressive metal but genres like contemporary metal/ thrash/ death metal and progressive rock are also featured on the album. The songs are very diverse and most songs feature several different sections and styles. Lead vocalist Taylor Hession is a skilled vocalist. His clean singing is strong and emotional but he also handles death grunts and aggressive vocals in pretty good style ( a bit generic but allright). I´m mostly fond of his clean singing though ( I really find his fast little vocal runs quite charming). Songs like Till The Morning Light, Illumination, Oxygen and especially the emotional ballad Requium feature examples of his great clean vocal performance on Somnambulist. The latter is without a doubt one of the strongest ballads I´ve heard in a while. A beautiful song that one.
In addition to bass, guitars and drums the album also features a couple of songs with the, for metal, rather unusual instrument: A violin. Guitarist Ray Goodwin plays the violin on a couple of tracks of which Just How Far Down Do You Want To Go? is the one where the violin is featured the most. The addition of the violin is a nice feature but it´s only a minor detail in the music and doesn´t mean much to the overall sound of the album. The music is very dynamic and features just about everything from subtle mellow parts to blast beat parts and everything in between. The album is a bit too long with its 74:46 minutes playing time, and while bonus tracks are always a nice feature, I think the album would have benefitted from being more compact. Two acts come to mind while listening to the album and that´s Strapping Young Lad and Shaolin Death Squad. Not the worst acts to be compared to if you ask me.
The songs are pretty complex but only occasionally touch tech metal territory. The musicianship is excellent though and there are lots of exciting playing to feast upon. The focus is predominantly on the songs and not the playing though. The high level of musicianship is used to create clever compositions rather than showing off.
The production is professional and detailed. A modern metal production.
I had never heard about Sicmonic before listening to Somnambulist and I might have been reluctant to if I had read a review who mentioned the modern/ contemporary metal influences in the music. It´s a matter of taste but I usually don´t appreciate genres like Deathcore, NU-metal and Metalcore which the music on Somnambulist share some similarities with. Somnambulist fortunately is so much more than that and if you´re looking for something that has equal amounts of aggressive, progressive and melodic elements Sicmonic pretty much got it nailed with Somnambulist. A 4 star rating is well deserved. An excellent release.
4/5
SOMNAMBULISTSicmonic
Tech/Extreme Prog Metal
In addition to bass, guitars and drums the album also features a couple of songs with the, for metal, rather unusual instrument: A violin. Guitarist Ray Goodwin plays the violin on a couple of tracks of which Just How Far Down Do You Want To Go? is the one where the violin is featured the most. The addition of the violin is a nice feature but it´s only a minor detail in the music and doesn´t mean much to the overall sound of the album. The music is very dynamic and features just about everything from subtle mellow parts to blast beat parts and everything in between. The album is a bit too long with its 74:46 minutes playing time, and while bonus tracks are always a nice feature, I think the album would have benefitted from being more compact. Two acts come to mind while listening to the album and that´s Strapping Young Lad and Shaolin Death Squad. Not the worst acts to be compared to if you ask me.
The songs are pretty complex but only occasionally touch tech metal territory. The musicianship is excellent though and there are lots of exciting playing to feast upon. The focus is predominantly on the songs and not the playing though. The high level of musicianship is used to create clever compositions rather than showing off.
The production is professional and detailed. A modern metal production.
I had never heard about Sicmonic before listening to Somnambulist and I might have been reluctant to if I had read a review who mentioned the modern/ contemporary metal influences in the music. It´s a matter of taste but I usually don´t appreciate genres like Deathcore, NU-metal and Metalcore which the music on Somnambulist share some similarities with. Somnambulist fortunately is so much more than that and if you´re looking for something that has equal amounts of aggressive, progressive and melodic elements Sicmonic pretty much got it nailed with Somnambulist. A 4 star rating is well deserved. An excellent release.
http://www.metal-revolution.com/plugins/content/content.php?content.2864
93/100 !!!!!!
by Zoka
author awarded score:
93/100
Aural/Victory, 22nd January 2010
Imagine a kaleidoscope, a huge kaleidoscope with a bright specter of colors. Now imagine this kaleidoscope transforming into a sonic experience rather than visual one. This is perhaps a decant way to try to explain the outstanding experience that is Somnambulist.
Once in a while out comes an album that just confuses you with its brilliance. The difference between these kinds of albums and the other outstanding albums is that its difficult to understand how did it all come about and you find yourself wishing that you were fly on the wall throughout the whole creating process behind these albums the writing, recording, rehearsing
Thats the feeling I got when listening to, among the others Tools Ænima, Fantômas Suspended Animation and Nine Inch Nails The Fragile. (Sic) Monics Somnambulist is one of those albums too.
This album has an approach to writing and playing music that is free and thats one of the things that makes it extremely genuine and emotional. Another aspects that furthers strengthen this is the fact that the band is extremely talented, brave and technically good.
Somnambulist is an emotional explosion that mixes anything from jazz to death metal in an entity so honest and unpredictable that I found myself actually saying the words What the hell? and Are you kidding me? out loud, few times during the first spin of this record.
The band's performance is fantastic, but its their songwriting that impresses the most, together with Taylor Hessions out of this universe vocal performance. Much like the music itself, vocal performance is highly complex, unpredictable, unbelievably vital and emotional. One second he is producing diabolic growls in best Glen Benton style and the second later he is singing in a most melodic and heart breaking voice you can imagine. This combined with some very personal and moving lyrics as well as very creative melodies, creates a cocktail, which sucks the listener deep into its universe. Highlights are too many to mention and even the bonus tracks (re-recordings of few songs from their first album) keep the quality level high, but one of the songs that just needs to be mentioned is semi-acoustic Requiem, which is one of the most emotionally charged songs I have heard in a long time. The lyrics and Hessions performance are simply magnificent.
As for the things that could be improved; the only thing I can think of is that the individual sound of the instruments is too ordinary to accompany the music, which is so distinctive. Still the band gets away with this quite easily, thanks to above mentioned songwriting and performance, but just as importantly thanks to outstanding arrangements.
With such a diverse vocal performance as well as the overlapping vocals one cant help but wonder how in the world will Hession pull this out live and I hope to get the answer to this question sometime soon, because this is the band I need to experience live.
Somnambulist is a truly amazing album, in just about all aspects.
www.sicmonic.com
93/100 !!!!!!
by Zoka
author awarded score:
Aural/Victory, 22nd January 2010
Imagine a kaleidoscope, a huge kaleidoscope with a bright specter of colors. Now imagine this kaleidoscope transforming into a sonic experience rather than visual one. This is perhaps a decant way to try to explain the outstanding experience that is Somnambulist.
Once in a while out comes an album that just confuses you with its brilliance. The difference between these kinds of albums and the other outstanding albums is that its difficult to understand how did it all come about and you find yourself wishing that you were fly on the wall throughout the whole creating process behind these albums the writing, recording, rehearsing
Thats the feeling I got when listening to, among the others Tools Ænima, Fantômas Suspended Animation and Nine Inch Nails The Fragile. (Sic) Monics Somnambulist is one of those albums too.
This album has an approach to writing and playing music that is free and thats one of the things that makes it extremely genuine and emotional. Another aspects that furthers strengthen this is the fact that the band is extremely talented, brave and technically good.
Somnambulist is an emotional explosion that mixes anything from jazz to death metal in an entity so honest and unpredictable that I found myself actually saying the words What the hell? and Are you kidding me? out loud, few times during the first spin of this record.
The band's performance is fantastic, but its their songwriting that impresses the most, together with Taylor Hessions out of this universe vocal performance. Much like the music itself, vocal performance is highly complex, unpredictable, unbelievably vital and emotional. One second he is producing diabolic growls in best Glen Benton style and the second later he is singing in a most melodic and heart breaking voice you can imagine. This combined with some very personal and moving lyrics as well as very creative melodies, creates a cocktail, which sucks the listener deep into its universe. Highlights are too many to mention and even the bonus tracks (re-recordings of few songs from their first album) keep the quality level high, but one of the songs that just needs to be mentioned is semi-acoustic Requiem, which is one of the most emotionally charged songs I have heard in a long time. The lyrics and Hessions performance are simply magnificent.
As for the things that could be improved; the only thing I can think of is that the individual sound of the instruments is too ordinary to accompany the music, which is so distinctive. Still the band gets away with this quite easily, thanks to above mentioned songwriting and performance, but just as importantly thanks to outstanding arrangements.
With such a diverse vocal performance as well as the overlapping vocals one cant help but wonder how in the world will Hession pull this out live and I hope to get the answer to this question sometime soon, because this is the band I need to experience live.
Somnambulist is a truly amazing album, in just about all aspects.
www.sicmonic.com
http://www.zwaremetalen.com/recensie/15224/SicMonic-Somnambulist.html
81/100
(Sic)Monic - Somnambulist
Aural Music, 2010
Oncategoriseerbaar, noemt (Sic)Monic zichzelf. En op basis van Somnabulist kan ik het daar volledig mee eens zijn. We horen hier werkelijk van alles langskomen: van hardcore en screamo tot heavy metal, jazzy stukjes, death metal en power metal. Daar kan ik geen naam aan plakken, ik houd het maar bij wat verwijzingen naar andere bands en een voorzichtig positief advies.
Want (Sic)Monic is best aardig bezig op dit album! De vijf heren uit Arizona kunnen overduidelijk spelen en productioneel hebben ze het ook voor elkaar. Goede, krachtige clean vocals, afgewisseld met stevige screams en Pain of Salvation-achtige (semi)rap-stukken. Gegrunt wordt er ook, maar dat valt wat tegen. Vele melodische leads maar ook regelmatig knallende, typische Amerikaanse mathcore/screamo-stukjes tussendoor. Aan de melodische metalkant vind ik de band soms lijken op Nevermore en Pain of Salvation, aan de rag-lekker-door-kant doet het me denken aan een band als Within the Ruins, en als men tenslotte gaat voor een ballad als Requiem lijkt het weer op P.O.D.. Als uitsmijter gooi ik er nog een naam als System of a Down tegenaan en dan moet iedereen wel een idee hebben toch? Toch?
Ik heb mijn best gedaan: probeer dit eens als je bovengenoemde bands trekt en niet vies bent van wat nu-metal aan het begin van 2010. Dat wil zeggen, strikt gesproken kwam dit album vorig jaar al uit. Maar aangezien men toen wat in eigen beheer aan het prutsen was en het album nu met een label erachter opnieuw wordt gebracht, reken ik (Sic)Monic gewoon mee in de race om de beste nieuwkomer van het jaar.
81/100
(Sic)Monic - Somnambulist
Aural Music, 2010
Oncategoriseerbaar, noemt (Sic)Monic zichzelf. En op basis van Somnabulist kan ik het daar volledig mee eens zijn. We horen hier werkelijk van alles langskomen: van hardcore en screamo tot heavy metal, jazzy stukjes, death metal en power metal. Daar kan ik geen naam aan plakken, ik houd het maar bij wat verwijzingen naar andere bands en een voorzichtig positief advies.
Want (Sic)Monic is best aardig bezig op dit album! De vijf heren uit Arizona kunnen overduidelijk spelen en productioneel hebben ze het ook voor elkaar. Goede, krachtige clean vocals, afgewisseld met stevige screams en Pain of Salvation-achtige (semi)rap-stukken. Gegrunt wordt er ook, maar dat valt wat tegen. Vele melodische leads maar ook regelmatig knallende, typische Amerikaanse mathcore/screamo-stukjes tussendoor. Aan de melodische metalkant vind ik de band soms lijken op Nevermore en Pain of Salvation, aan de rag-lekker-door-kant doet het me denken aan een band als Within the Ruins, en als men tenslotte gaat voor een ballad als Requiem lijkt het weer op P.O.D.. Als uitsmijter gooi ik er nog een naam als System of a Down tegenaan en dan moet iedereen wel een idee hebben toch? Toch?
Ik heb mijn best gedaan: probeer dit eens als je bovengenoemde bands trekt en niet vies bent van wat nu-metal aan het begin van 2010. Dat wil zeggen, strikt gesproken kwam dit album vorig jaar al uit. Maar aangezien men toen wat in eigen beheer aan het prutsen was en het album nu met een label erachter opnieuw wordt gebracht, reken ik (Sic)Monic gewoon mee in de race om de beste nieuwkomer van het jaar.
http://www.metal-rules.com/review/v...=Alan Gilkeson&month=February&year=2010&pos=0
(Sic)Monic
Somnambulist
February 2010
Released: 2010, Aural Music
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Alan Gilkeson
Quite surprised by the immediacy of brutality and melody on album opener 'To The Fiendz', with its boldly aggressive attack, (Sic)Monic conjoin a bit of their own style with the likes of Disturbed, System of a Down, and maybe even a tinge of some Static X and Korn... Signed to the Aural Music label out of Italy, these kids hail from the Phoenix area, and with this ode to a sleepwalker, manage to come up with a fairly adept record, tinged with just enough originality to make it viable.
Songs like 'Till The Morning Lighte' draw obvious connections to the aforementioned System of a Down, with its breaks from spacy temporal clean vocal phrases to maniacal dirty vocaled rants, yet (Sic)Monic's sort of avant-garde use of melody adds a new dimension squarely their own. There's an avant-garde feel to the guitars as well, often forgoing traditional chugga chugga style for a more eclectic use of tone and mode. The title track uses a bit of the same formula, yet is even crazier, a powerful tune, quite possibly the standout track on the record, fast, brutal, melodic, with awesome guitars and frenetic drum work.
Bottom line, we're dealing with a band honing their own style, pushing the boundaries a bit... So many good songs here, 'Illumination' writhes with emotion, a powerful vocal job, while 'Of Blood and Grace' takes a bit of a Linkin Park vibe and turns it completely Metal and massively emotive, intelligent, and brutal, without abandoning melody, while expanding song structure to include things other than verse/chorus/verse/chorus etc. etc.
(Sic)Monic
Somnambulist
February 2010
Released: 2010, Aural Music
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Alan Gilkeson
Quite surprised by the immediacy of brutality and melody on album opener 'To The Fiendz', with its boldly aggressive attack, (Sic)Monic conjoin a bit of their own style with the likes of Disturbed, System of a Down, and maybe even a tinge of some Static X and Korn... Signed to the Aural Music label out of Italy, these kids hail from the Phoenix area, and with this ode to a sleepwalker, manage to come up with a fairly adept record, tinged with just enough originality to make it viable.
Songs like 'Till The Morning Lighte' draw obvious connections to the aforementioned System of a Down, with its breaks from spacy temporal clean vocal phrases to maniacal dirty vocaled rants, yet (Sic)Monic's sort of avant-garde use of melody adds a new dimension squarely their own. There's an avant-garde feel to the guitars as well, often forgoing traditional chugga chugga style for a more eclectic use of tone and mode. The title track uses a bit of the same formula, yet is even crazier, a powerful tune, quite possibly the standout track on the record, fast, brutal, melodic, with awesome guitars and frenetic drum work.
Bottom line, we're dealing with a band honing their own style, pushing the boundaries a bit... So many good songs here, 'Illumination' writhes with emotion, a powerful vocal job, while 'Of Blood and Grace' takes a bit of a Linkin Park vibe and turns it completely Metal and massively emotive, intelligent, and brutal, without abandoning melody, while expanding song structure to include things other than verse/chorus/verse/chorus etc. etc.
http://www.progressive-area.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1416&Itemid=2
(SIC)MONIC - Somnambulist - © Aural Music 2009 Écrit par Kaliana 04-03-2010
(SIC)MONIC est un groupe dapprenti-sorciers qui samusent à rapprocher des genres musicaux très éloignés pour les fondre dans « Somnambulist », un album technique, mélodique et agressif. La première difficulté quand on doit chroniquer un album pareil, cest de trouver par quel bout commencer. Plutôt que de décortiquer titre par titre, je vais essayer de prendre une approche globale.
Première caractéristique de lalbum : la technique. (SIC)MONIC nest pas un groupe de débutant et ils nous le prouvent. « Somnambulist » est construite comme une uvre dart. Indéniablement, il y a une énorme masse de travail derrière. Que ce soit dans les parties hardcore voire death metal, ou dans les structures progressives très présentes, (SIC)MONIC sont des artistes qui maitrisent leurs instruments. Ils savent où ils mettent les pieds.
Ensuite, « Somnambulist » est le résultat d'un mélange difficile de genres. Une alchimie parfois brutale qui fait fusionner entre eux des univers musicaux quasiment antagonistes. La patte infernale du death metal est centrale, sans être dominante. Le jazz fusion est une autre facette. Laspect mélodique est renforcé par des schémas progressifs ou le chant clair Taylor Hession peut sépanouir. Dans tous les genres explorés, (SIC)MONIC simpose par une maitrise sans faille. Taylor HESSION par exemple excelle aussi bien dans le chant clair que dans les growls. Cest assez rare, le seul qui puisse faire mieux à ma connaissance, cest Mikael AKERFELDT. (OPETH).
Le résultat : un album époustouflant ! Unique en son genre, on pourra au moins attribuer à (SIC)MONIC la palme de loriginalité. « Somnambulist » repose sur un équilibre fragile supporté par des mondes musicaux très différents. Violent, technique et mélodique, trois adjectifs qualificatifs qui, sans résumer lalbum, indiquent particulièrement bien son orientation. Difficile à digérer, épuisant à suivre, « Somnambulist » requiert une oreille exercée et un estomac bien accroché pour être correctement apprécié. Il en vaut la peine !
(SIC)MONIC - Somnambulist - © Aural Music 2009 Écrit par Kaliana 04-03-2010
Première caractéristique de lalbum : la technique. (SIC)MONIC nest pas un groupe de débutant et ils nous le prouvent. « Somnambulist » est construite comme une uvre dart. Indéniablement, il y a une énorme masse de travail derrière. Que ce soit dans les parties hardcore voire death metal, ou dans les structures progressives très présentes, (SIC)MONIC sont des artistes qui maitrisent leurs instruments. Ils savent où ils mettent les pieds.
Ensuite, « Somnambulist » est le résultat d'un mélange difficile de genres. Une alchimie parfois brutale qui fait fusionner entre eux des univers musicaux quasiment antagonistes. La patte infernale du death metal est centrale, sans être dominante. Le jazz fusion est une autre facette. Laspect mélodique est renforcé par des schémas progressifs ou le chant clair Taylor Hession peut sépanouir. Dans tous les genres explorés, (SIC)MONIC simpose par une maitrise sans faille. Taylor HESSION par exemple excelle aussi bien dans le chant clair que dans les growls. Cest assez rare, le seul qui puisse faire mieux à ma connaissance, cest Mikael AKERFELDT. (OPETH).
Le résultat : un album époustouflant ! Unique en son genre, on pourra au moins attribuer à (SIC)MONIC la palme de loriginalité. « Somnambulist » repose sur un équilibre fragile supporté par des mondes musicaux très différents. Violent, technique et mélodique, trois adjectifs qualificatifs qui, sans résumer lalbum, indiquent particulièrement bien son orientation. Difficile à digérer, épuisant à suivre, « Somnambulist » requiert une oreille exercée et un estomac bien accroché pour être correctement apprécié. Il en vaut la peine !
http://www.obliveon.de/pn-om/module...cdreviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=15076
Die modernen Blast-Attacken der Band (Sic)Monic aus Arizona sind nur für waschechte, aufgeschlossene Menschen. Da gibt es zu viele Spielarten des Metal, die miteinander kombiniert wurden, um den Puritaner hinterm Ofen hervorzulocken. Die Hysterie in der Musik erinnert mich weitesgehend an Strapping Young Lad. Konstruktives Chaos. Die Songs coexistieren in einer Stilvielfalt zwischen Death, Thrash, Alternative, Nu-Metal und Core-Elementen. Hat unser Chefredakteur mich gerade für ein DVD Review vom Country-Barden John Denver langgemacht, da packen (Sic)Monic für den ersten Track Fiddle und Banjo aus und bieten uns Country auf Koks. Oder die Leningrad Cowboys mal anders. Ja, ja, ich weiß, ist halt härter. Egal wie brutal die Songs wie der zweite Track auch crashen mögen, durch die wechselnden Vovals, die öfter mal clean geshoutet werden, hält man die Melodien am Start. Für mich persönlich im No-Go-Bereich sind die fast gerappten schnelleren Sprechgesänge bei manchen Tracks ("Just How Far Down Do You Want To Go?"). Das ist mir dann etwas zu modern. Balladeskere Töne kommen zum Beispiel mit "Till The Morning Light" zum Einsatz, was mir dann aber zu langweilig ist. Diese Chose hat sicherlich mehr als eine anstrengende Seite, kann man aber als toleranter Musik-Fan durchaus geniessen, vorausgesetzt der Tag hatte nichts Anstrengendes. 7,5/10 - SBk
Die modernen Blast-Attacken der Band (Sic)Monic aus Arizona sind nur für waschechte, aufgeschlossene Menschen. Da gibt es zu viele Spielarten des Metal, die miteinander kombiniert wurden, um den Puritaner hinterm Ofen hervorzulocken. Die Hysterie in der Musik erinnert mich weitesgehend an Strapping Young Lad. Konstruktives Chaos. Die Songs coexistieren in einer Stilvielfalt zwischen Death, Thrash, Alternative, Nu-Metal und Core-Elementen. Hat unser Chefredakteur mich gerade für ein DVD Review vom Country-Barden John Denver langgemacht, da packen (Sic)Monic für den ersten Track Fiddle und Banjo aus und bieten uns Country auf Koks. Oder die Leningrad Cowboys mal anders. Ja, ja, ich weiß, ist halt härter. Egal wie brutal die Songs wie der zweite Track auch crashen mögen, durch die wechselnden Vovals, die öfter mal clean geshoutet werden, hält man die Melodien am Start. Für mich persönlich im No-Go-Bereich sind die fast gerappten schnelleren Sprechgesänge bei manchen Tracks ("Just How Far Down Do You Want To Go?"). Das ist mir dann etwas zu modern. Balladeskere Töne kommen zum Beispiel mit "Till The Morning Light" zum Einsatz, was mir dann aber zu langweilig ist. Diese Chose hat sicherlich mehr als eine anstrengende Seite, kann man aber als toleranter Musik-Fan durchaus geniessen, vorausgesetzt der Tag hatte nichts Anstrengendes. 7,5/10 - SBk
Passzio.hu 8/10
http://www.passzio.hu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=19969
Nem tudom, mások hogy vannak ezzel, de én sohasem tudtam lelkesedni, ha egy kiadványt a kategorizálhatatlan jelzővel próbált meg lenyomni a torkomon valamely kiadó. Ezt ugyanis csupán pár zenekar mondhatja el ténylegesen magáról, de az amerikai banda nem igazán tartozik e körbe véleményem szerint. Mert noha igaz, változatos és sokszínű zene hallható ezen a diszken, de koránt sem annyira előremutató, mint ahogyan azt szeretnék velünk elhitetni.
A csapat megalakulásának időpontja valamilyen okból kifolyólag a homályba vész, annyit tudni csak biztonsággal, hogy eleinte női énekessel dolgoztak, majd több tagcsere után alakult ki jelen felállás. 2006-ban debütáltak a magánkiadású Look to the Skies c. lemezzel, de jelen korong sem éppen vadiúj, hiszen az anyag önerőből már megjelent tavaly, a néhány bónusz tétellel megfejelt újrakiadás az olasz céggel kötött szerződés eredménye.
Na és a zene... Kiindulásnak jobb híján vegyük a hardcore/metal címkét, jó adag modernebb témával (nagyjából a SOAD vonalán), illetve indie hatásokkal is megfejelve. A groove-okkal vastagon átitatott muzsika a latino ritmusokat sem nélkülözi, gondolom ezért is hozták fel több helyen az Ill Nino nevét velük kapcsolatban. Nincs is ebben hiba, hiszen a dallamok és a melódiák nem ártanak az összkép szempontjából, más kérdés, hogy az originális elképzelések helyett a múltból merített tapasztalatok rendkívül jó érzékkel történő újrahasznosításáról van csupán szó. Ehhez megfelelő alappal szolgál a zenészek képzettsége, valamint az, hogy Taylor személyében egy igazán tehetséges énekest tudhatnak soraikban, aki a tiszta énektémákat is küszködés nélkül képes hozni. Sokan buktak már el ezen a kritikus ponton...
Az erőteljes és arányos hangzásba ágyazott dalok alapvetően két csoportra oszthatók. Egy részük direktebb zúzda, ahol a csapat elementáris erővel tolja a riffeket, Taylor pedig hangszálait nem kímélve üvölt, hörög, koncerten tutira gyilkos lehet. Nekem mégis jobban tetszenek azok a némileg visszafogottabb, de izgalmasabb felépítésű szerzemények, amelyek már-már akusztikusba hajló részekkel tarkítva, helyenként a hegedűt (!) sem nélkülözve csendülnek fel. Pozitívum, hogy ennek ellenére sem veszik ki az intenzitás a zenéből. Csupán szubjektív alapon említeném meg itt a Till the Morning Light; az Of Blood and Grace; az Oxygen és a Just How Far Down Do You Want to Go? négyest, mint a leginkább tetsző nótákat. Illetve még ide venném a Requiem líraiját is, kétség kívül megkapó dal. Ugyanakkor nehezen veszi be a gyomrom, hogy a négy bónusz tétellel 75 perc fölé hizlalták a játékidőt, mert ez bizony már sok. Bár az illendőség kedvéért megjegyezném, hogy a Devil Went Down to Georgia country-s baromkodását leszámítva ezek is korrekt, némi elektronikával bolondított darabok.
Összességében azt mondanám, hogy modernebb hangzások kedvelői bátran tegyenek vele próbát, mert könnyen össze lehet vele barátkozni, de a műfajt valószínűleg nem ez a csapat fogja megújítani.
http://www.passzio.hu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=19969
Nem tudom, mások hogy vannak ezzel, de én sohasem tudtam lelkesedni, ha egy kiadványt a kategorizálhatatlan jelzővel próbált meg lenyomni a torkomon valamely kiadó. Ezt ugyanis csupán pár zenekar mondhatja el ténylegesen magáról, de az amerikai banda nem igazán tartozik e körbe véleményem szerint. Mert noha igaz, változatos és sokszínű zene hallható ezen a diszken, de koránt sem annyira előremutató, mint ahogyan azt szeretnék velünk elhitetni.
A csapat megalakulásának időpontja valamilyen okból kifolyólag a homályba vész, annyit tudni csak biztonsággal, hogy eleinte női énekessel dolgoztak, majd több tagcsere után alakult ki jelen felállás. 2006-ban debütáltak a magánkiadású Look to the Skies c. lemezzel, de jelen korong sem éppen vadiúj, hiszen az anyag önerőből már megjelent tavaly, a néhány bónusz tétellel megfejelt újrakiadás az olasz céggel kötött szerződés eredménye.
Na és a zene... Kiindulásnak jobb híján vegyük a hardcore/metal címkét, jó adag modernebb témával (nagyjából a SOAD vonalán), illetve indie hatásokkal is megfejelve. A groove-okkal vastagon átitatott muzsika a latino ritmusokat sem nélkülözi, gondolom ezért is hozták fel több helyen az Ill Nino nevét velük kapcsolatban. Nincs is ebben hiba, hiszen a dallamok és a melódiák nem ártanak az összkép szempontjából, más kérdés, hogy az originális elképzelések helyett a múltból merített tapasztalatok rendkívül jó érzékkel történő újrahasznosításáról van csupán szó. Ehhez megfelelő alappal szolgál a zenészek képzettsége, valamint az, hogy Taylor személyében egy igazán tehetséges énekest tudhatnak soraikban, aki a tiszta énektémákat is küszködés nélkül képes hozni. Sokan buktak már el ezen a kritikus ponton...
Az erőteljes és arányos hangzásba ágyazott dalok alapvetően két csoportra oszthatók. Egy részük direktebb zúzda, ahol a csapat elementáris erővel tolja a riffeket, Taylor pedig hangszálait nem kímélve üvölt, hörög, koncerten tutira gyilkos lehet. Nekem mégis jobban tetszenek azok a némileg visszafogottabb, de izgalmasabb felépítésű szerzemények, amelyek már-már akusztikusba hajló részekkel tarkítva, helyenként a hegedűt (!) sem nélkülözve csendülnek fel. Pozitívum, hogy ennek ellenére sem veszik ki az intenzitás a zenéből. Csupán szubjektív alapon említeném meg itt a Till the Morning Light; az Of Blood and Grace; az Oxygen és a Just How Far Down Do You Want to Go? négyest, mint a leginkább tetsző nótákat. Illetve még ide venném a Requiem líraiját is, kétség kívül megkapó dal. Ugyanakkor nehezen veszi be a gyomrom, hogy a négy bónusz tétellel 75 perc fölé hizlalták a játékidőt, mert ez bizony már sok. Bár az illendőség kedvéért megjegyezném, hogy a Devil Went Down to Georgia country-s baromkodását leszámítva ezek is korrekt, némi elektronikával bolondított darabok.
Összességében azt mondanám, hogy modernebb hangzások kedvelői bátran tegyenek vele próbát, mert könnyen össze lehet vele barátkozni, de a műfajt valószínűleg nem ez a csapat fogja megújítani.
http://www.brutalism.com/content/sic-monic-sonambulist
4/5
Monic - Sonambulist
(Sic) Monic
Sonambulist
Track Listing:
Rating:
4
It is hard to describe what (Sic) Monic, the five piece band from Arizona, have creates with their latest album, Sonambulist. It's hardcore, it's deathcore, it's rock, it's prog, it's... good. A varied album, Sonambulist will entertain fans for some time. "To The Fiendz" opens things up with full melodic brutality, showing off prog string pickings, hardcore chug riffs, growled vocals and clean singing. Obviously there is a lot to take in here. Nothing sounds poorly produced or done; the harsh vocals are either deep and clear or high pitched while the cleaner vocals hold a tone that's a cross between alternative rockers Mudvayne and Tool. "Till The Morning" shows off more of the clean vocals as well as some more melodic sections, while staying heavy and loud in the hardcore/ deathcore riff vein. But, there's certainly a lot of prog metal influence here, especially in the middle. Other tracks like "Sonambulist" and "Of Blood And Grace" are more jazz fusion deathcore; the drums are insane, the screaming top notch, and there's so many technical riff changes that it will make mathcore fans smile and a lot of people used to 'normal' metal have a headache. But, again, it's very interesting to have this sort of variation on the album. Another interesting track to note is "How Far Down..." where there's a classical structure to the guitars in the sense they can sound like violins at time and the vocals actually rap for a bit.
Not all of Sonambulist is metal and heavy. There's a lot of slower, rock ballads here as well. "Requiem" sports a haunting guitar melody while the vocals sing cleanly with a bit of anguish to harshen the edge. "Paradiseum" is even slower and softer, offering an acoustic piece that Opeth would end of trying out. The clean vocals really show off their talent here. While some metal fans may be turned off by the epic, softer feeling of the song, they shouldn't worry since there's only two, and when "Paradiseum" ends one of the heavier deathcore tracks comes on, "Acidic Epiphanies," with plenty of evil groove and growling to remove any sense of peace. Of course, like all the others, the song isn't without its quirks as suddenly some whispery harsh vocals come on halfway through the song and the clean vocals sing in a weird, bizzare tone to follow the prog-jazz feeling of the guitar. It's a good way to close the album, if fans have the regular version.
For those that apparently got a second version of the album (the one that was released on the the label Aural Music), there's four bonus tracks to contend with. Most are in the vein of the album in being heavy, prog deathcore, but there's a few oddballs to keep things entertaining. "Seven Inches Deep" starts off sounding like some Irish punk melody from a band like Dropkick Murphys before the deathcore part comes in. It is an odd sound for the band, but works, since the entire band is odd, in a progressive good sense. Then there's the cover track of "The Devil Went To Georgia" which turns this country-rock tune into something crazy; there's even a fiddle involved to keep things original. But the addition of electric guitars and the growled vocals add a new layer of brutality that is enjoyable. (Sic) Monic definitely have talent, and anyone who appreciates experimental rock or metal like Tool, Between the Buried and Me, or Klone will find this just as exciting and mind bending.
4/5
Monic - Sonambulist
(Sic) Monic
Sonambulist
Track Listing:
- To The Fiendz...
- Till The Morning Light
- Sonambulist
- Illumination
- Of Blood And Grace
- Requiem
- Oxygen
- No Conscience
- Just How Far Do You Want To Go?
- Paradiseum
- Acidic Epiphanies
- Fist To Throat (bonus)
- Seven Inches Deep (bonus)
- Hypnotic (bonus)
- The Devil Went to Georgia (bonus)
Rating:
4
It is hard to describe what (Sic) Monic, the five piece band from Arizona, have creates with their latest album, Sonambulist. It's hardcore, it's deathcore, it's rock, it's prog, it's... good. A varied album, Sonambulist will entertain fans for some time. "To The Fiendz" opens things up with full melodic brutality, showing off prog string pickings, hardcore chug riffs, growled vocals and clean singing. Obviously there is a lot to take in here. Nothing sounds poorly produced or done; the harsh vocals are either deep and clear or high pitched while the cleaner vocals hold a tone that's a cross between alternative rockers Mudvayne and Tool. "Till The Morning" shows off more of the clean vocals as well as some more melodic sections, while staying heavy and loud in the hardcore/ deathcore riff vein. But, there's certainly a lot of prog metal influence here, especially in the middle. Other tracks like "Sonambulist" and "Of Blood And Grace" are more jazz fusion deathcore; the drums are insane, the screaming top notch, and there's so many technical riff changes that it will make mathcore fans smile and a lot of people used to 'normal' metal have a headache. But, again, it's very interesting to have this sort of variation on the album. Another interesting track to note is "How Far Down..." where there's a classical structure to the guitars in the sense they can sound like violins at time and the vocals actually rap for a bit.
Not all of Sonambulist is metal and heavy. There's a lot of slower, rock ballads here as well. "Requiem" sports a haunting guitar melody while the vocals sing cleanly with a bit of anguish to harshen the edge. "Paradiseum" is even slower and softer, offering an acoustic piece that Opeth would end of trying out. The clean vocals really show off their talent here. While some metal fans may be turned off by the epic, softer feeling of the song, they shouldn't worry since there's only two, and when "Paradiseum" ends one of the heavier deathcore tracks comes on, "Acidic Epiphanies," with plenty of evil groove and growling to remove any sense of peace. Of course, like all the others, the song isn't without its quirks as suddenly some whispery harsh vocals come on halfway through the song and the clean vocals sing in a weird, bizzare tone to follow the prog-jazz feeling of the guitar. It's a good way to close the album, if fans have the regular version.
For those that apparently got a second version of the album (the one that was released on the the label Aural Music), there's four bonus tracks to contend with. Most are in the vein of the album in being heavy, prog deathcore, but there's a few oddballs to keep things entertaining. "Seven Inches Deep" starts off sounding like some Irish punk melody from a band like Dropkick Murphys before the deathcore part comes in. It is an odd sound for the band, but works, since the entire band is odd, in a progressive good sense. Then there's the cover track of "The Devil Went To Georgia" which turns this country-rock tune into something crazy; there's even a fiddle involved to keep things original. But the addition of electric guitars and the growled vocals add a new layer of brutality that is enjoyable. (Sic) Monic definitely have talent, and anyone who appreciates experimental rock or metal like Tool, Between the Buried and Me, or Klone will find this just as exciting and mind bending.
http://www.metalitalia.com/cds/view.php?id=15&cd_pk=8793
8/10
Uscito lanno scorso come full autoprodotto, questo Somnambulist, secondo disco completo degli americani Sicmonic dopo Look To The Skies del 2006, viene ri-pubblicato in questi giorni dalla nostrana e sempre perspicace Aural Music, etichetta che ogni tanto scova dei gruppi tanto particolari quanto interessanti. I Sicmonic da Phoenix, Arizona in effetti suonano modern metal, come precisato nella biografia, ma di quello inteso a 360 gradi: la band guidata dal fenomenale cantante Taylor Hession, infatti, passa con disarmante disinvoltura dal brutal-death più truce ed efferato al nu-metal à la Linkin Park, dai breakdown mosh classici del metal-core a delle ballate acustiche da far accapponare la pelle, il tutto con attitudine prog, buona fluidità di songwriting e senza creare il temuto effetto matrioska, piuttosto diffuso quando si cerca di miscelare generi fra di loro completamente opposti. Il punto di forza del quintetto USA, assente il quale difficilmente ci saremmo esaltati così tanto, non risiede però nellazzardato miscuglio sonoro proposto, bensì nelloperato del già citato Hession, un vero cavallo di razza che riesce ad esprimersi in pig squeals, growl, scream, pulito, vocalizzi reggae e ondeggiamenti simil-Tankian in modo del tutto naturale e terribilmente efficace e la title-track, sotto questo punto di vista, vi lascerà sbalorditi! I primi cinque brani di Somnambulist, peraltro dotato di nuovo artwork e prodotto alla grande, sono un crescendo emotivo di sensazioni contrastanti, tra strofe e aperture potenti e ariose, chorus schizoidi, groove assassini e accelerazioni devastanti e qui vi facciamo lesempio di Illumination, che parte come ballata malinconica per poi esplodere in un riffing e ritmiche degni dei Dying Fetus. Con Requiem e Paradiseum le acque si chetano per qualche minuto, durante i quali ci troviamo cullati dalla poesia e dallintensa atmosfera dei Sicmonic acustici; si cala un po nella seconda parte dellalbum, dove però i violini impazziti di Just How Far Down Do You Want To Go? e leccezionale incedere della conclusiva Acidic Epiphanies tengono altissima la tensione. In aggiunta ad un disco a dire il vero un po troppo lungo ma per nulla noioso, ecco quattro validissime bonus-track a chiudere la partita, fra cui la cover del famoso brano di Charlie Daniels Devil Went Down To Georgia. Cosa dire ancora su Somnambulist? A nostro avviso si tratta di un gran disco, che però sicuramente risentirà della troppa varietà di generi coinvolti: chi ascolta solo death metal farà fatica ad apprezzare le melodie pulite di Hession; chi ascolta nu o i SOAD si troverà spiazzato dai brutalismi parziali della band. Occorre profonda apertura mentale, insomma
8/10
Uscito lanno scorso come full autoprodotto, questo Somnambulist, secondo disco completo degli americani Sicmonic dopo Look To The Skies del 2006, viene ri-pubblicato in questi giorni dalla nostrana e sempre perspicace Aural Music, etichetta che ogni tanto scova dei gruppi tanto particolari quanto interessanti. I Sicmonic da Phoenix, Arizona in effetti suonano modern metal, come precisato nella biografia, ma di quello inteso a 360 gradi: la band guidata dal fenomenale cantante Taylor Hession, infatti, passa con disarmante disinvoltura dal brutal-death più truce ed efferato al nu-metal à la Linkin Park, dai breakdown mosh classici del metal-core a delle ballate acustiche da far accapponare la pelle, il tutto con attitudine prog, buona fluidità di songwriting e senza creare il temuto effetto matrioska, piuttosto diffuso quando si cerca di miscelare generi fra di loro completamente opposti. Il punto di forza del quintetto USA, assente il quale difficilmente ci saremmo esaltati così tanto, non risiede però nellazzardato miscuglio sonoro proposto, bensì nelloperato del già citato Hession, un vero cavallo di razza che riesce ad esprimersi in pig squeals, growl, scream, pulito, vocalizzi reggae e ondeggiamenti simil-Tankian in modo del tutto naturale e terribilmente efficace e la title-track, sotto questo punto di vista, vi lascerà sbalorditi! I primi cinque brani di Somnambulist, peraltro dotato di nuovo artwork e prodotto alla grande, sono un crescendo emotivo di sensazioni contrastanti, tra strofe e aperture potenti e ariose, chorus schizoidi, groove assassini e accelerazioni devastanti e qui vi facciamo lesempio di Illumination, che parte come ballata malinconica per poi esplodere in un riffing e ritmiche degni dei Dying Fetus. Con Requiem e Paradiseum le acque si chetano per qualche minuto, durante i quali ci troviamo cullati dalla poesia e dallintensa atmosfera dei Sicmonic acustici; si cala un po nella seconda parte dellalbum, dove però i violini impazziti di Just How Far Down Do You Want To Go? e leccezionale incedere della conclusiva Acidic Epiphanies tengono altissima la tensione. In aggiunta ad un disco a dire il vero un po troppo lungo ma per nulla noioso, ecco quattro validissime bonus-track a chiudere la partita, fra cui la cover del famoso brano di Charlie Daniels Devil Went Down To Georgia. Cosa dire ancora su Somnambulist? A nostro avviso si tratta di un gran disco, che però sicuramente risentirà della troppa varietà di generi coinvolti: chi ascolta solo death metal farà fatica ad apprezzare le melodie pulite di Hession; chi ascolta nu o i SOAD si troverà spiazzato dai brutalismi parziali della band. Occorre profonda apertura mentale, insomma
http://www.flightofpegasus.gr/heavy_metal/index.php
(SIC)MONIC Somnambulist (Aural)
Μην κάνετε το λάθος και αγνοήσετε αυτό το απίστευτο δεύτερο άλμπουμ του συγκροτήματος από το Φοίνιξ. Ένας πρώτος, εύκολος παραλληλισμός του ύφους τους θα γινόταν με τους γνωστούς Αρμένιους, το παρουσιαζόμενο σχήμα όμως έχει τόσα πολλά να πει. Με τα φωνητικά δεμένα με τους στίχους, από τις hard core κραυγές και τον τσαμπουκά στα ψυχωμένα, καθαρά και δραματικά, όσο προχωρά η ακρόαση του δίσκου τόσο αναδεικνύεται η ξεχωριστή του ποιότητα. Οι δημιουργοί του είναι μουσικοί χωρίς στεγανά, τολμηροί, συνδυαστικοί, διαταραγμένοι όπως πρέπει, γίνονται φοβερά ενδιαφέροντες όταν ξεφεύγουν. Οι τύποι έχουν σίγουρα κάτι να πουν και η δουλειά τους σηκώνει προσεκτικές ακροάσεις. Πρόκειται για σπουδαία κυκλοφορία, από εκείνες που ανανεώνουν το ενδιαφέρον για τη σύγχρονη μουσική. Υπερβολή; Ελάτε τώρα, αφήστε άλλους να παριστάνουν τους σκληρούς και τους ψαγμένους. Όσοι ξέρετε τη λατρεία του ιστότoπου για τους Last Crack και λοιπούς καταραμένους θα πρέπει ήδη να έχετε ξεκινήσει το ψάξιμο.
(SIC)MONIC Somnambulist (Aural)
metal hammer germany
6/7
(Sic)monic sind eine junge Band aus Phoenix, Arizona, die mit SOMNAMBULIST ihren Label-Einstand gibt. Dabei tischen sie dem Hörer eine Prog-Suppe allererster Güte auf. Hier werden Einflüsse von Death, System Of A Down, Linking Park, Devin Townsend, Skyclad, P.O.D. und diversen anderen Bands in einen Topf geworfen, aufgekocht und zu einem absoluten Leckerbissen vermischt.
In jedem Lied gibt es etwas zu entdecken, ständig gelingt es Sänger Taylor Hession, mit seiner Stimme zu überraschen und stellenweise sogar zu verblüffen. Selten wurde der Wechsel zwischen Screams, Growls, Klargesang und gerappten Passagen leichter vollzogen, als von diesem Ausnahmetalent, das stellenweise sogar an die Güteklasse eines Devin Townsend heranreicht.
Untermalt wird das Ganze durch eine Instrumentalfraktion, die auf einem absolut hochklassigen Niveau rangiert. Vor allem Gitarrist Ray Goodwin kann mit den Großen des Genres mithalten. Und dass (Sic)monic Sinn für Humor beweisen, zeigen sie mit dem abschließenden Cover von The Devil Went Down To Georgia, das manchem schon von Primus bekannt sein könnte. Hier spielt Goodwin Geige und Sänger Hession verleiht jeder Figur eine eigene, charakteristische Stimme, so dass dieser Song schon fast Hörspielcharakter bekommt.
Für Progressive Metal Fans, die ohne Scheuklappen durch die Gegend laufen, eine ganz klare Kaufempfehlung. Und für alle Anderen zumindest ein Antesten wert.
Sebastian Paulus
6/7
(Sic)monic sind eine junge Band aus Phoenix, Arizona, die mit SOMNAMBULIST ihren Label-Einstand gibt. Dabei tischen sie dem Hörer eine Prog-Suppe allererster Güte auf. Hier werden Einflüsse von Death, System Of A Down, Linking Park, Devin Townsend, Skyclad, P.O.D. und diversen anderen Bands in einen Topf geworfen, aufgekocht und zu einem absoluten Leckerbissen vermischt.
In jedem Lied gibt es etwas zu entdecken, ständig gelingt es Sänger Taylor Hession, mit seiner Stimme zu überraschen und stellenweise sogar zu verblüffen. Selten wurde der Wechsel zwischen Screams, Growls, Klargesang und gerappten Passagen leichter vollzogen, als von diesem Ausnahmetalent, das stellenweise sogar an die Güteklasse eines Devin Townsend heranreicht.
Untermalt wird das Ganze durch eine Instrumentalfraktion, die auf einem absolut hochklassigen Niveau rangiert. Vor allem Gitarrist Ray Goodwin kann mit den Großen des Genres mithalten. Und dass (Sic)monic Sinn für Humor beweisen, zeigen sie mit dem abschließenden Cover von The Devil Went Down To Georgia, das manchem schon von Primus bekannt sein könnte. Hier spielt Goodwin Geige und Sänger Hession verleiht jeder Figur eine eigene, charakteristische Stimme, so dass dieser Song schon fast Hörspielcharakter bekommt.
Für Progressive Metal Fans, die ohne Scheuklappen durch die Gegend laufen, eine ganz klare Kaufempfehlung. Und für alle Anderen zumindest ein Antesten wert.
Sebastian Paulus
http://www.angelfire.com/rock/e4/july2010.html#sicmonic
Rating: 6 stars!
The artwork for the cd is so freakin' dark that I'll admit I had trouble reading it because most things in my world are not lit in bright lighting, so reading this cd's song titles & liner notes was a challenge. I was expecting this band to be another crappy death metal band with no diversity in their sound, but what I got when I put this disc into the player was a very diverse collection of music, definitive progressive metal for sure!
"To The Fiendz" is heavy as hell, then "Till The Morning Light" is kinda mexican inspired in it's overall sound, it's got a laid back sound & style that's not typical of metal by any means! There's quite a few mellow parts until you get to "Oxygen" which is a proper mix of double bass drum thuds & melodic harmonies drenched with guitar licks. "No Conscience" has the screaming vocals mixed with the melodic vocals & the entire record is a mix of Mexican influenced mellow moments mixed with blood heavy metal mayhem...it's a very distinctive band that can mix stuff like that & these guys are REALLY solid players too, there's some amazing solos, the timing changes are complex, this is a musicians' band for sure! The last few songs are bonus tracks & the very last song on the disc is a Charlie Daniels cover that you should know!
I'll give this band kudos for being unique, I was expecting a bland release & this is a really good disc....I'd say this band is a mix of System of a Down meets Six Feet Under meets Ill Nino!
Rating: 6 stars!
The artwork for the cd is so freakin' dark that I'll admit I had trouble reading it because most things in my world are not lit in bright lighting, so reading this cd's song titles & liner notes was a challenge. I was expecting this band to be another crappy death metal band with no diversity in their sound, but what I got when I put this disc into the player was a very diverse collection of music, definitive progressive metal for sure!
"To The Fiendz" is heavy as hell, then "Till The Morning Light" is kinda mexican inspired in it's overall sound, it's got a laid back sound & style that's not typical of metal by any means! There's quite a few mellow parts until you get to "Oxygen" which is a proper mix of double bass drum thuds & melodic harmonies drenched with guitar licks. "No Conscience" has the screaming vocals mixed with the melodic vocals & the entire record is a mix of Mexican influenced mellow moments mixed with blood heavy metal mayhem...it's a very distinctive band that can mix stuff like that & these guys are REALLY solid players too, there's some amazing solos, the timing changes are complex, this is a musicians' band for sure! The last few songs are bonus tracks & the very last song on the disc is a Charlie Daniels cover that you should know!
I'll give this band kudos for being unique, I was expecting a bland release & this is a really good disc....I'd say this band is a mix of System of a Down meets Six Feet Under meets Ill Nino!
http://www.corazine.com/articles/s/sicmonic/reviews/somnabulist.aspx
"This one's nicely healed, sir." WTF? That would be dialogue with the doctor after the recovery. Recovery? From what? From the Frankenstein put-together. WTF X 2? All the different parts go so well together here, that's what I'm getting at. That it's NOT a Frankenstein, an analogy I've used before when genre-blending (or, at least, sub-genre-blending) is afoot. Sicmonic nicely sidesteps quick-and-easy metal category placement by embracing a sheer love of metal through the casting of a wide net. The technical but hardly ungroovy heaviness that is "Somnambulist" slams you sideways while the vocals (the most overt sign of style-splicing) do everything from crisp singing to metalcore to death metal. The songwriting (and the execution thereof) is tight as hell. This ain't no sieve. Watertight, I'm telling you! A solid and sleek earburster.
"This one's nicely healed, sir." WTF? That would be dialogue with the doctor after the recovery. Recovery? From what? From the Frankenstein put-together. WTF X 2? All the different parts go so well together here, that's what I'm getting at. That it's NOT a Frankenstein, an analogy I've used before when genre-blending (or, at least, sub-genre-blending) is afoot. Sicmonic nicely sidesteps quick-and-easy metal category placement by embracing a sheer love of metal through the casting of a wide net. The technical but hardly ungroovy heaviness that is "Somnambulist" slams you sideways while the vocals (the most overt sign of style-splicing) do everything from crisp singing to metalcore to death metal. The songwriting (and the execution thereof) is tight as hell. This ain't no sieve. Watertight, I'm telling you! A solid and sleek earburster.
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