Bereavement
Jupiter Hollow
From their Facebook page, JUPITER HOLLOW said "some people consider us to be alternative metal, some people consider us to be progressive rock, and some people just like what they hear. We don't believe in genre; we believe genre is an excuse to pigeonhole our sound. For us, we prefer to keep our options open. As for what we sound like, that's for you to determine. We don't care what we sound like, since we don't have control over our destiny. Our path is written, but we must walk it. Therefore, the music has already been created in the future, and we are messengers of the present. We are from Earth, from your future. Moving forward through time is to move forward through space. We are evolutionary descendants of our past, we evolve from our actions. Jupiter Hollow is here to share the missing link of your human existence." "Bereavement" contains nine tracks.
"L Eau du Papineau" opens the album. Birds chirp, as an ominous feeling develops in the background. A soft guitar begins to strum away as the vocals come in. It has a playful quality to it, reminding me of RUSH's softer side a bit. The guitars have an almost bluegrass feeling to them. They are right, pigeon-holing them is going to be a problem. "Scarden Valley" opens with charming piano notes and a melancholy feeling. Here the vocalist sounds a bit like COHEED AND CAMBRIA's lead singer. The melodies are subtle, but there for the taking. I love how it all sounds so drastic, so vital, with such little instrumentation. A bluesy guitar solo is just what the doctor prescribed here.
"The Rosedale" opens with a little more guitar presence, and a bit funkier groove overall. It really gets your head and/or feet tapping. The COHEED AND CAMBRIA feeling is coming on strongly here, especially when that riff gets nasty. The vocalist goes for broke at the end, hitting glass shattering ranges. "Kipling Forest" is an almost continuation of the previous tracks, with angry vocals and a heavy guitar riff. There are alternating passages of softer music with the more angrier music. I have to admit liking the more melancholy side of the band. "The Mill" has a strange reverb in the vocals and shows a bit more of the odd side of the band. Just when you think they land on a melody line, it shifts to a different direction. But, they do end on a bit of a tough sounding riff.
"Mandating our Perception" is a brief two-and-a-half minutes of sweet piano music, with background ambiance. "Sawbreaker" is a nine-minute beast, opening with and unexpected drum solo before the vocals come in and everything is quieted. The angry, gritty side of the band comes out again, along with some Progressive elements. The lead guitars begin to build into a chaotic frenzy for a spell, then keys come into play. This song has it all and more. "Extensive Knowledge" continues on where "Sawbreaker" left off, with gentle harmonic guitar notes and a more passive and soothing feeling. This song is gentle and features some falsetto vocals at times. "Solar Gift" closes the album, at just under thirteen minutes in length. It's another song with a shifting vision and you have to wonder how they can keep track of everything here. That is truly the gift. The piano parts are nothing short of gorgeous, and that middle part of the song is very charming. Towards the end it almost becomes a free jam session.
Overall, this was quite a very well thought out album that the guys poured their hearts and souls into. I wasn't sure what to expect after the first track, but I got everything but the kitchen sink here. Perhaps it lacks a clear vision. Nah, that's what an inexperienced listener would say. But dig deeper and you will find a ton of nuances and other little things that connect to the overall vision...in a somewhat odd way. But that's what I like about Progressive music...all the surprises you get along the way. One thing is for sure, this duo is immensely talented, and created a completely unique listening experience here.
9 / 10
Almost Perfect
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Bereavement" Track-listing:
1. L' Eau du Papineau
2. Scarden Valley
3. The Rosedale
4. Kipling Forest
5. The Mill
6. Mandating our Perception
7. Sawbreaker
8. Extensive Knowledge
9. Solar Gift
Jupiter Hollow Lineup:
Kenny Perry
Grant MacKenzie
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