Orchestral or Symphonic Rock has grown quite a bit in popularity over the last few years with many bands trying their hands at it. Two of my all times favorites is Epica, and HB. Two bands that mix a high level of musical ability with gritty production appeal. I actually a huge fan of symphonic music, and admire bands in this genre, as often the compositions are complex and intricate, and IA love a good composition.

I will start off by sticking my head in it; that Promised Land has that over-produced feel, and it’s by no imagination of my mind, in that the lyrical content can be a little Christian cheesy at times. That said, the musical accomplishments are actually quite good, and there is a high level of skill.

I could be wrong indeed, and I stand to be corrected. I am a big boy when it comes to this, but I have spent enough time mixing and in studio over the last few years to realize that the more you tweak your sound in house during the production process, which is from the moment you press record, is that you want to maintain the energy of the band. The term over production for me only officially has its place when through the production process due to tweaking, when the processes get fine tuned to death to such a point the energy of the band is almost extinguished. It’s in this part that no matter how good the arrangements or the musical skill that you can find what in all forgiving terms is a great album, lacking that quality that in fact would organically capture the band as they are, and not what a studio production has made them to be. Continue reading »