Staffordshire prog rockers' debut album
Already having 2 successful EPs and a BBC session to their name, popular newbies Operation Error have decided the next logical step would be to re-release that material in their debut album "A Sign Of Faith". Despite only being together for two years, Operation Error have a clear statement of intent and collective vision for their prog-metal soundscapes - it has to be huge.
From the legend-inspired cover art to the epic blast of dual guitar riffage, everything about Operation Error suggests they go all-out at every opportunity to create soulful anthems bridging the gap between the old and the new. And this is proving very popular. Only there’s something not quite right. 12 tracks on a prog album, however good, is a long time. A lot of this is filler and drags on as such. It’s very easy for good tracks to get mired down in the swamp of similar-sounding stuffing. At times, such as 'The Prayer of an Ancestor' the band settle down into long sessions on full volume that is clearly meant to offer a sense of height and scale, but lacks the subtle variations in tempo and volume that make the no-holds-barred moments most effective.
That said, the inventive riffs such as 'Red Rum' and the anthemic 'An Unlikely Exit' highlight the guitar work of Shaun Winkle and Jonathan Parsons, and bassist Stu Blackwood as the driving force of this album. Creating between them a solid sound and forceful rhythm, it’s a particular standout feature of every track here. 'A Vision Corrupted' contains an interesting break from the constant guitar onslaught and emphasises the drums, but they are critically underused across the album. Vocalist Steve Ayres has an interesting approach to his work too. Not a screamer to compete with the guitar wall of sound, instead the whole effect is tamed by Ayres’ earnest but powerful vocals.
"A Sign of Faith" is a definitive statement of intent - this band produce meaningful but strong prog metal, attempting to move away from ‘mainstream’ rock thematically and extend their sound. It’s a technically excellent album that provides exactly what you would expect it to. The only down sides are that it’s not for the impatient, and they use the same format for a lot of songs, both of which will change with time and experience. 'The Voice of Jor-El' and the melodic 'Your Faith, My Struggle' are hopefully the sign of things so come, providing that balance and definition the rest of the album lacked.