Epo (Reissue)
Gardenjia
•
July 25, 2013
A strange cadence dominates and rules the room while listening to this disc, there are, of course, loads of syncopated inhuman rhythms, dissonant riffs played on tuned down guitars, harsh grunt and the whole bit but also some delicate futuristic atmosphere that is really wrapped and submerged in a halo of many layers of keyboards, Grand piano and ethereal clean guitars, spotlighting the whole spectrum of the Djent sound or called extreme Prog Metal into a modern dimension.
After the release of their first self-produced EP "Ievads" in 2011 and the recording of his successor entitled "Epo" in late December 2012, the band was signed by Memorial Records but the album was up-dated , completely remixed and remastered, and even enhanced with the addition of two brand new tracks, called "Epica" and "Ascension", for a total of ten adventurous songs in the key of Modern music with an heavy impact, ultra somber and it could be the perfect soundtrack for an apocalyptic dystopian future.
The Saxophone utilization is an acquired taste but I found it pleasant most of the time, revealing a darker ambiance in the dramatic and experimental last track ("Ascension"). Of course, barely or no lead guitar at all , this is an element that I miss a lot but I believe that this particularity it's an essential element of the whole part of that musical trend .The vocals are truly the weakest point, quite one-dimensional and most of the time bland in their most extreme rendition...Even annoying; maybe they have to consider the fact to publish their music in an instrumental version as TESSERACT and HAJI'S KITCHEN or they could also try to recruited another Screamer / Vocalist to complete the picture
6 / 10
Had Potential
"Epo (Reissue)" Track-listing:
1. Epica
2. Ante Rem
3. In Blue
4. Shapes of Greys
5. Touch of Glory
6. Fire Walk With Me
7. Giada
8. In Dusk
9. Epo
10. Ascension
Gardenjia Lineup:
Raffaele Galasso - Lead Vocals / Guitars / Synths
Giuseppe Miglietta - Guitars / Synths
Antonio Martire - Drums / Synths
Ezio Contino - Sax
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