The Convoy of Ruin
Edge of Haze
From Bandcamp, EDGE OF HAZE has been treading the line between heavy and serene since 2010. The band's trademark atmospheric sound incorporates the juxtaposition of Prog Metal elements with massive cinematic landscapes. The band is on a quest to create the soundtrack for the darkest days with a hint of daylight in the horizon." The album contains ten songs.
"Floods" is the first. It's heavy and melodic, with Djent accents from the rhythm guitars. Harsh vocals follow cleans, in a chorus full of melody and backing elements, like ambient keyboards. That passage that follows the first chorus is very charming. Talk about cinematic, the band nails these qualities in the song. "The Other Side" is a shorter song but with no less beauty. Harsh vocals lead the way to strong melodies in the chorus once again, with clean vocals. The piano notes are very well-placed. "Remains" begins with more heavy accents but equal parts beauty. The keyboards notes really balance out the sound. The vocal harmonies in the chorus are augmented with more keys, more melodies, and more cinematic elements. "Parts of Everything" begins with clean guitars and melancholy tones, but that main riff hits hard. Melodies come pouring out of every crack until they fill the air that you breathe. More heavy, cinematic elements accompany a smoking guitar solo. "Instead of Gravity" is another introspective and poignant sound that lets the subtle melodies develop. Wow, what a pretty sound indeed. The clean female vocals are also quite alluring. Harmonies develop from there, with soft saxophone notes. Let that big punch wake you up. "Trailblazers" washes away the melody with a weighted riff and harsh vocals. But the melody returns, in grand fashion.
"Endgame" is a short and energetic piece with heavy dose of harsh vocals, but catchy sounds remain. "Heathen" has a heavy keyboard and bass sound in the opening. Once again, the band proves their songwriting ability with an emotional and heavily melodic chorus. "Birth" is the final cut on the album. Keyboards and a weighted, accented riff open the song, with plenty of instrumental prowess. The harsh vocals are so stark that they by design help the listener enjoy the clean elements more. Leave it up to the Fins to think of everything. At times, there are elements of Pop music so strong, that some of these songs could be on the radio. In other instances, the music is weighted and aggressive. The way they combine many different elements into the music is fascinating. Despite some of the harsh vocals, melody is always in the forefront of the band's songwriting, and they appear unabashed by offering them so generously. It was a very sweet listening experience with enough fervor for ardent Metalheads.
9 / 10
Almost Perfect
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"The Convoy of Ruin" Track-listing:
1. Floods
2. The Other Side
3. Remains
4. Parts of Anything
5. Instead of Gravity
6. Trailblazers
7. Endgame
8. Heathen
9. Birth
Edge of Haze Lineup:
Markus Hentunen - Lead Vocals, Guitars & Saxophone
Eero Maijala - Harsh Vocals & Bass
Janne Mieskonen - Drums & Percussion
Juha Rapanen - Lead Guitars
Akseli Savola - Keyboards
Guests:
Joel Ward
Aliisa Heinilä
Aino Tikkanen
Akseli Savola
Julia Leskinen
Linnea Hildén
Emmi Hakala
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