Vesania

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 16 11:47:59 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит Vesania/(1998)_Vesania

Весения - это прогрессив-рок-группа из Бразилии. Они начинали, как металлурги, а потом перешли на прог, выпустили вот этот симфо-проговый (кстати, почему это называют "симфо-проговый" мне непонятно) альбом и канули в Лету.
Группа находится под очень сильным влиянием Кинг Кримсон 70-80-х.
Из "симфо" там только достаточно широкое использование меллотрона, да и всё. Остальное - весьма тяжелый, граничащий с металлом прог - с солирующей гитарой, раскатистым и интересным басом и ударными. Интересно, что группа прекрасно нашла баланс, альбом отлично уравновешен. Забавно то, что 4 композиции из 7 имеют длину 7 минут-с-мелочью.
Диск очень сильный, достойный того, чтобы переслушивать его ещё не раз ни два.
РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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A heavy-metal-turned-progressive band from Brazil, VESANIA released a generally well-regarded album in 1999, and then basically disappeared.

The sound on the self-titled release is undeniably progressive, with heavy emphasis on occasionally aggressive guitar work and simple but energetic drums. The keyboards and bass are complex but understated, the mellotron often contributing string effects to give a stronger feel of symphonic composition. All tracks are instrumental, but the unusually mature blend of the band's instruments obviates the need for vocals.

The music from this lone album has been compared to ANEKDOTEN, and influences from KING CRIMSON are undeniable. But overall the group managed to craft a sound all their own, and the album has been acclaimed by many progressive critics over the years. But the band never followed up the release, and none of its former members are known to be performing professionally today.

VESANIA belong in the Archives for their one symphonic release, and their place in the otherwise brief chapter of Brazilian symphonic music history.

(c) Bob Moore (ClemofNazareth), PA
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(c) Review by Cesar Inca, PA
Vesania is a one-shoot band from Brazil that in 1999 released an eponymous album full of somber moods, electrifying power and robust moods. Most of the motifs are quite Spartan, with a compositional basis more focused on harmony than on melody. There is also a recurrence in the roles filled by the guitar and the keyboards: the latter is in charge of the featured riffs and most of the leads, while the latter are almost exclusively focused on background orchestrations and ornaments. The rhythm duo is the most frontally aggressive source of sound in the band, making an undisputed hint to Vesãnia's metal past (before it became a prog rock band). The overall sound is sustained on a combination of prog metal, 90s Crimsonian ambiences, 70s Rush, thrash metal and Gothic within a solid heavy prog frame. The musical ideas are usually not that complex, but the sophistication is patently there, working on the arrangements that link the various motifs contained in each track. Coincidences can be traced with Italian band A Piedi Nudi and Frech act Taal. The opening track 'Freiraticos' states a peculiar combination of strength and pomposity through the development of the successive motifs. 'Nebulosa' goes to a wider variety of places, since it comprises an energetic exercise on rock- fusion for its interlude: the fusion element is inspired by Carioca folklore. The final section feels like a mixture of late Sepultura and "Нemispheres"-era Rush. 'Bardos' takes the listener by surprise with its funky-based introductory theme, but soon enough things get in a metallish KC tone, including some weird dissonant layers that lean closer to Present than to Dream Theater or Fates Warning (for instance). The last 2 minutes are occupied by a Flamenco-tinged symphonic motif whose majesty is conveniently reconstructed via Vesãnia's signature metal sound. 'Tetraghamaton' is actually very Gothic: Manieri delivers some of his finest guitar solos in the album, while Ricardo Bonzatto makes his keyboards take a prominent location (something not too recurrent in this album). After a first half that prioritizes cosmic ambiences, the second half shifts to a creepy atmosphere, solidly sustained over a languid tribal rhythmic structure. The climax is very much a-la Black Sabbath through an "Awake"-era DT filter. 'Sesgo' bears a similar mood to those displayed in tracks 1 and 2, with an extra touch of space-oriented psychedelia, and even an extended jazzy guitar lead. When things return to a heavy stance, the climax feels vibrant. 'Zenus labo' is in no position of adding anything new to the sonic spectrum so far delivered in the album, but it certainly has a special appeal in its motifs and tempos. The solemnity of the last motif reminds of the closing portion of 'Bardos', slightly Arabic indeed. 'Prolegomenos' fills the album's last 6 1/2 minutes, being the least aggressive piece: being as tough as it is, its main sonorities are dominantly traced by Gothic sources and spacey textures. It contains enough motif and tempo variations as to keep a progressive interest, but mostly, it states a powerful farewell without reaching for the dramatic. I suspect that this band doesn't exist anymore, so I have to say that Vesania is a band to be remembered.
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(c) Review by Mellotron Storm, PA
Man this is my kind of music, sort of a cross between ANEKDOTEN and LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT you could say. I mention LTE because this is really close to Prog Metal as RYM music has it tagged at but I think Нeavy Prog is maybe closer to the fact. I'm not sure why this Brazilian band are listed under Symphonic here, in fact I was really surprised the first time I played this because I saw what they were listed under here before I spun it. This album absolutely smokes! A really tough album to find any information about though as this was their sole release back in 1999. There are keyboards and what sounds like mellotron and synths. VESANIA by the way is Latin for "insanity".

"Freiraticos" opens with spacey sounds before we get crushed rather quickly in this uptempo barn-burner. I can't get over how much the tone of the guitar at times sounds just like Nicklas from ANEKDOTEN. The backing synths or mellotron just storm the soundscape at times. The guitar is crying out before 3 minutes. There's that guitar tone again after 3 1/2 minutes as the mellotron-like sounds ravage the soundscape. I really like the drumming too. I just want to bathe in this stuff(haha). A calm before 5 minutes and it's so moving for me but it kicks back in quickly. A very ANEDOTEN-like track and probably my favourite. "Nebulosa" opens with busy drumming and plenty of depth from the organ-like sounds that run rampant. The guitar joins in and really comes to the fore before 1 1/2 minutes. Great sound! A calm arrives after 2 1/2 minutes and the guitar starts to cry out and soar. So good! Check out the bass at 4 minutes when the guitar stops. Oh my! The guitar is back quickly and I really dig the drumming. Back to that earlier sound. Killer!

"Bardos" opens with a bass solo. Nice. Then we get a lighter soundscape for the first time thanks to the synths. That all changes before a minute though as it turns heavy duty and dark with some great drum work. The guitar is lighting it up 3 1/2 minutes in to the end. "Tetragramaton" opens with some atmosphere before the drums and heavy guitar expressions join in quickly. The synths pulsate and add depth as usual. It settles at 3 1/2 minutes but man what a powerful soundscape as my speakers are vibrating. We get some laughter from a couple of band members as they know what's about to happen as the guitar cries out while the soundscape continues to shake from the power. Yeah I'm laughing too. This continues but something has to give, but it doesn't as this continues to the end!

"Sesgo" opens with pounding drums, sweeping synths and ripping guitar. It's heavier after a minute. I love this! Check out the earth-moving bass as well. It calms down 3 minutes in with deep bass lines as the synths continue to add atmosphere. Picked guitar joins in a minute later. Nice. It kicks back in hard at 7 minutes. "Zenuslabo" opens with a guitar melody and pulsating keys as the bass and drums support. The mellotron-like sounds are fantastic! I like how it changes slightly and how themes are repeated. There's that ANEKDOTEN-like guitar before 3 1/2 minutes as the mellotron storms in. A guitar solo follows a minute later and it's so fast and fluid. Back to the previous guitar tone. Amazing tune! "Prolegomenos" opens with keys as drums and guitar join in after a minute as the keys stop. Synths join in as well as they kick some ass here to end the album. I like how we get drums only to end the track and album. Bravo!

I'm such a huge fan of this style of music being a massive ANEKDOTEN fan. And I have to wonder if VESANIA ever heard the music of that great Swedish band considering they changed their previous style of music of Нeavy Metal to this.
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Инджой!
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WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido