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AETHERIUS - ALL THAT I NEED TO SURVIVE
INDEPENDENT
METAL TO INFINITY
From Massachusetts / USA; Aetherius! Another new band from the other side of the ocean and believe me it is one you need to discover if you're into Progressive Metal! The United States have a rich tradition if we talk about Progressive Metal; the best bands in this genre are from out there. The base was found in the early eighties but even nowadays some quality bands still exists. Aetherius is found in 2003 and it's so strange this band still has no label.
This CD, from 2007, is full of great Progressive Metal elements which mean that you will discover great guitar solos, strong vocal performances and technical musicianship. Nevertheless Aetherius sounds not overactive; each song owns recognizable lines. Musicianship is more than writing notes and performing them as good as possible. No! Music also needs character, a soul, a clear message and Aetherius delivers them!
Fans of Dream Theater, the nineties era of Fates Warning, the unknown Auditory Imagery and bands like Wolverine will easily adore this release. The arrangements are often superb but the production isn't always that strong, sometimes even a weak point. Although most drum parts are impressive the sound of the percussion is often not good enough. No offence because this is a private pressing but we all know that, especially Progressive Metal, longs for a very clear production. Nevertheless it doesn't bother me at all; therefore the music is often too good!
Aetherius is energetic and brings the Metal you need to take some time for. Aetherius knows how to touch your soul; the middle part of 'The New Way Of Thinking' is a perfect example for it. Another musical part that touched my soul was the piano at 'Hold Onto Your Dreams'. Also the acoustic guitars at 'Evolve Or Dissolve' blew me away because I just love this kind of acoustic arrangements! Believe me when I say also some guitar solos will thrill you; fast fingered and often ripping! No, this ain't some music to play in the background; it is the kind of music you want to hear when you're into the perfect mood for a great evening of Heavy Metal at your place!
RBM is a good singer with a wired range, using mostly clear vocals. At some points you'll hear some kind of harsh grunts too, making this release sound more diverse. His vocal sound fits perfectly on this kind of music and is another strong point for this band. Aetherius mixes pure Metal elements with very atmospheric arrangements, making their music sound varied and mature!
This kind of Progressive Metal is straight forward at the one point, touchy at the other. We all know that those are the basic ingredients to become a good band in this particular genre. Aetherius's stays focused on melody and great musicianship. I'm expecting a lot from this band in the future because the band is ambitious and... competent! This band will grow, is capable to deliver masterpieces in the future but the first thing to do is find a good label and a lot of support! Good release you can order at http://myspace.com/aetherius My Points: 84/100 (Review by Officer Nice)