An Collection of Touching and Raw Tunes
With enough melodrama to launch a metal album, but far more melody, Aeon Spoke have a lot going for them. We kick off with the massive 'Cavalry of Woe', a transcendental journey through grungey guitars and electro-tweaked vocals with the masochistic lyrics, "You know it burns but you love the flames". It kicks off with the sound of marching boots, an ominous and foreboding tone, before twisting into a widescreen soundscape of soaring guitars which will soon engulf you into possibly the finest and most compulsive listen on this album. 'Sand And Foam' is another wonder in a similar vein, climactic guitars build to giddy peaks and vocals filled with bleak abandon howl, "Call my name, just set me free".
These massive epics seem to be sandwiched between more reserved tunes like 'No Answers' that plough the same musing indie furrows as groups like Idlewild, be it with a little more vigour. There are also some stirring slow numbers, 'The Fisher Tale' is an edgy ballad with darkness opening up in its every drum beat and harrowing guitar cry. 'Grace' lifts the tone, a gentle lilting tune that features beautiful teardrop chimes interlaced with singer Paul Masvidal's vocal lament, "Give me faith in the world". At times tunes like this stray a little into the Snow Patrol soft indie angst territory, whereas numbers like 'Sand And Foam' have more of the Radiohead about their experimental tone, albeit a distinctly rock Radiohead with chugging guitars!
'Yellowman' is a curious little number that's intense in its understated simplicity, delicate keys ring out over guitar chords and meandering gloomy vocals, "Blood is spilled again". 'Aeon Spoke' is an interesting album that maintains a high standard of entrancing tracks and shows a good level of variety, both of which are important factors in a band's success, from this alone I predict that Aeon Spoke could go far offering lovers of melodic rock something a little more intelligent and indie fans a darker edge.