Antalgia - Perception of Reality
CD Info
2012
Self Released / Spain
8 Tracks
English Lyrics
Female-fronted progressive metal is a rare breed of music. All of a sudden, though, we at Sonic Cathedral have discovered bands of this kind in droves. One such band is Antalgia. This quintet was a well-kept secret in their hometown of Lleida, Spain until this spring, when they were confirmed as one of two opening acts for Therion’s 25th anniversary tour this fall in Europe. Which begs the question: How did an unsigned band get this opportunity of a lifetime? Perhaps Therion knows something about Antalgia that we don’t know yet. This prompted me to dive into Antalgia’s as-yet unreleased debut album, Perception of Reality. What I found wasn’t the potential that Therion or their booking agent may have heard, but something promising nonetheless.
Perception of Reality presents a brand of progressive metal with symphonic tendencies and limited yet noticeable technicality. Antalgia’s musicians are most responsible for this. Guitarist Igna Jover varies the raw chugging with intricate riffing and more subtle techniques, while Xavi Sanchez explores his keyboard’s wide array of sounds. The soundscapes that Sanchez creates have a cinematic quality, as well as a maturity that few female-fronted metal bands have mastered. Actually, without stretching the comparisons too much, the only female-fronted bands that Antalgia sounds similar to are Diabulus in Musica (also from Spain) and Epica. Funny I mention DiM here; Antalgia vocalist Bella Dianez sounds a lot like Zuberoa Aznarez at times. Dianez croons in a sweet, childlike manner that’s atypical for a progressive metal band. (Most choose powerhouse vocalists.) She does reach some powerful notes and can pull off a healthy vibrato. What confuses me, though, is that Dianez sounds different when Antalgia plays live. She consistently sings with muscle and projection – so why isn’t that reflected more often on the studio recording?
Back to Perception of Reality as a whole. Much of this record focuses on fusing melody and dynamics. "The Invisible Mechanism" satisfies the listener’s first taste with 80’s-esque ambiances, keyboard and guitar solos, and an unrelenting flow of energy despite the tempo changes. It also offers Bella’s most expressive performance on the album. Lofty keyboards return for "Broken Wings" and peek in through the bluesy notes and gritty guitar chords. "Lines of Life" features a more classic metal sound in Jover’s initial guitar lines. Dianez’s emotive chorus as well as Sanchez’s synth-string highlights will stir the listener’s sense of longing.
The rest of Perception of Reality is a diverse collection of songs. Some tracks are lively and riff-driven, while others are skillfully textured. "Embrace of Death" falls into the latter category, thanks to layered rhythms of grooves, quick-fingered keys, bass-pedal beats, and cymbals. Diversity, however, creates some of the head-scratching moments on Perception of Reality. Closing ballad "Memories" crawls for 5 minutes (out of its total of 8 minutes) before it starts to get interesting. "The Unseen Empire," on the other hand, struggles between catchy hooks and tangled arrangements while copying a page out of Epica’s book on songs about humanity. A montage of socio-political sound clips? Check. Lyrics about "creating utopia"? Check. You can’t fault Antalgia for wanting to make a statement – but so many bands have tried this formula (and haven’t always succeeded) that it’s putting some fans to sleep.
The strength of Perception of Reality is undoubtedly its music. The virtuosity is surprising and impressive – so much that it reveals the album’s weaknesses like a door swinging wide open to a messy bedroom. First, many of the strongest hooks on Perception of Reality come from the instruments. That’s because the vocal melodies frequently aren’t memorable. Dianez isn’t the reason why; she delivers her lines on key and with emotion. Instead, the construction of the melodies (the structures and notes used, in other words) doesn’t lift every song to greater heights. Also, the final mix doesn’t allow Dianez’s voice to shine. I sometimes struggled to hear her softer or lower notes over the music. Again, Dianez isn’t at fault, because she shows her true potential in the YouTube clip provided earlier. I’m more inclined to point a finger at the mixing engineer for concentrating so much on the riffs and rhythms and allowing Dianez’s presence to be an afterthought instead of the centerpiece.
Despite my critiques, I do believe that Antalgia have a bright future. They have a solid vision, clever musicians, and a singer whose voice is unique for the style of metal being performed. All of this is evident on Perception of Reality. And since the album’s not overly technical, I’d consider it a good "gateway" album for anyone who wants an introduction to progressive metal. What Antalgia needs to do for their next album, however, is work on their songwriting and ensure the final product exhibits the strengths of each member. These improvements should come with time and experience. And who knows? Maybe the upcoming tour with Therion will jumpstart the growth Antalgia needs to evolve from a pleasant-sounding band into a more exciting one.
7.5 / 10
Best Songs: "The Invisible Mechanism," "Lines of Life"
Recommended for fans of melodic or progressive metal, or for fans of Epica, Diabulus In Musica, and Stream of Passion
Check out Antalgia’s Facebook page for more information about Perception of Reality.
