The Metal Resource – mauce.nl

Okay so I have never been a big fan of mixing electronics with rock music, but over the last few years as my musical horizons have grown and having a keen interest in broading my musical spectrum I have learnt to except and embrace a lot more than what I would have entertained as a teen or even a young 20 or 30 something adult. Okay I am giving my age away a bit, but dang who cares, let’s get back to focus on the latest band that popped up on my desk to review.

I think the whole electronic introduction into heavy music has been on a steady climb after the past decade, harking back to bands like Hawkwind and some other 70’s rock bands that incorporated synthesized music into their sound with some impressive if not hypnotic effect. So for me its done a full circle embrace, and with the latest gadgets and synthesizers available there are some interesting concepts out there, and some bands that are pulling this combination of rock or metal music mixed up with synthesizers  with style, giving new breathe to rock music in general.

This brings me to the Australian progressive heavy rock band Voyager, who drip with pop sensibility. They arrive with their latest work entitled, V, which is their fifth release. Details concerning the release dates of this album are as follows: digitally worldwide on 2nd June 2014. Physical releases will be June 2nd in Aus (Bandcamp exclusive)/UK (Code 7), North America (Nightmare Records) on June 3 and June 27th (MBM) in Europe. So digitally it’s out there to go and grab now.

There is a lot of pop that flows throw this 13 track album that offers 54 minutes of entertainment for those who enjoy their heavy rock with pop sensibility. Many of the songs do have a groove and are catchy.  This is not your run of the mill hybrid rock band that are playing mindless rock with cute pop overtones, because  you barely have to scratch the surface to realize there is a lot of technicality going on in the music that should manifest some sort of creditability to their sound.  DEFTONES’ Chino Moreno recently likened singer Danny Estrin’s vocals to DURAN DURAN’s Simon LeBon.

I think ultimately groove is very important in a rock band, couple that with a good melody and you should be on your way to making a hit song.  Not everyone succeeds, but for those whom do, well there are many rewards that can find them along that path. Determination, persistence and patience are key elements towards achieving such success.

Stand out qualities on this album is innovation, and lyrical content. To be honest lyrics for me play a valuable dimension to the overall package and quality of a song. I can easily get turned off a good song, by bad lyrics.  The release of V comes out of a very successful kickstarter campaign. That in itself is often part of the quality picture that is determined by the public, and not by some second rate hack reviewer like myself.

“Hyperventilating” opens the flood gates of the album, a song that strongly thrusts the album into momentum. The problem I often have with pop sensibility is that you find songs that become over-produced, like they try too hard to have the song so clean, that it can become sterile in some way even when it’s actually a good song anyways. Picking up on a little auto tune, which, yes is becoming more and more a household name for many, does for me at least take away more than add to the overall impact value of the song. Surely Daniel Estrin is a great enough vocalist, regardless?

The album is a high reaching attempt and does seem overall to succeed to surpass their prior releases.  A lot of time and effort has clearly been instituted into the release. But as we all should be able to contest time and effort does not always equal success. There are a number of elements to take into consideration.

Part of  those other elements are instituted in the second track on the album “Breaking Down” , a more progressive rock orientated song, that is highlighted by great vocal integrity, and a well balanced , and tasteful execution of keys and synthesizers. A song gauged for wide listener appeal.

“A Beautiful Mistake”, Features  guest vocalist, Zemyna Kuliukas  and adds a layered quality that elevates the song with her  dreamy vocals, and like most guest moments on various other bands I have had the privilege of hearing adds a fun aspect to the song. Clearly for it resonates with me as one of the more standout moments on the album. What it also illustrates is the varying degrees of Voyager’s musical ability and creativity. Each song adds a dimensional value that holstered in a level of consistency regardless of the varying degrees of artistic embroidering that occurs from song to song.

They don’t just explore with atmospheric injections of synthesizers and progressive glimpses, they are critical role players in the overall package of intent. All this adds to the scope and intricacy of the overall sound.  Overall the impact value of the album is applaud able, and a reflection of the skill of the musicians.

In concluding this review V has some generic pop qualities, and some of that commercial cleanliness I often steer away from. That aside, one has to take note of the progress of the band over its lifespan and its growing capability to create innovative music that is both catchy and not just stereo typical commercial in the process, even though there is a sense of commercial viability attached to it.

I think a lot of reviewers will rate this highly if not give this a 10 star rating, and in many aspects I can see why they would lean towards that, because the album is just so polished, clean and refined. It’s that which for personal reasons finds me saying it is a little generic from that point, and hides some of the raw talent of the actual artists, also taking away some of the raw energy that I feel one could experience possibility from these guys in a live setting. It’s like it’s been over produced, and with over production, almost always some energy, and punch is lost.

Look it’s a progressive metal release hands down. These guys are talented and certainly their skills come to form on many of the songs. I think this is a continuation of the progressive climb that these guys are journeying on, in that it’s a step upward, and not backward. A reflection of the bands growing skill and driven personality, as they craft and mould their sound with focused articulation. I think they are positioned for great things.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by Donovan de Necker

Tracklisting:
1. Hyperventilating
2. Breaking Down
3. A Beautiful Mistake
4. Fortune Favours The Blind
5. You The Shallow
6. Embrace The Limitless
7. Orpheus
8. The Domination Game
9. Peacekeeper
10. It’s A Wonder
11. Summer Always Comes Again
12. The Morning Light
13. Seasons Of Age

Band members:
Scott Kay – guitar
Alex Canion – Bass/vocals
Daniel Estrin – vocals/keytar
Ashley Doodkorte – drums
Simone Dow – guitar

Record Label: IAV Records, Bird’s Robe (AUS), June 2014

Weblinks: Facebook / Twitter / Bandcamp

Video below ‘Hyperventilating’

Lyric video ‘Breaking Down’