Album review : PARALYDIUM – Universe Calls

Frontiers [Release date : 09.08.24]

The success of a Progressive Rock album is almost totally dependent on creating a unique sonic landscape.

The reviews of Paralydium’s previous release criticised the band’s lack of ambition. That there was no apparent attempt to shrug off the genre’s tropes and break new ground.

In the post modern world of contemporary progressive rock, where cold, hard, sharp bursts of wiry axework percolate through pounding, percussive riffs, there is an expectation that whatever band in question will add a few hypnotically drifting passages. Something cinematic, widescreen, emotive.

Paralydium have come with the answers, some convincing, some less so.

At times the guitars and rhythms sound performative, the frenetic prog workouts not quite convincing, and they then shake it up with bluesy guitar breaks, set against heavily cinematic scoring, as on ‘Prelude’. Very effective.

Alexander Lycke’s generally strident vocals are sometimes reined back, and that works big time too, especially on ‘The Arcane Exploration, Part 1’, a standout track, effectively the album’s lynch pin.

‘Forging The Past’ is filled with Prog textures, skilfully styled, in part stagey and theatrical. In part bold and cinematic. Mainly contributed by John Berg and Mike Blanc, guitars and keyboards.

Lycke again reveals his versatility on an almost spoken word vocal here, adding to the song’s sense of drama.

George Egg and Jonathan Olsson, drums and bass, are a formidable rhythmic force, unobtrusive but impressively effective. Their muscular, inventive percussion drops into a supple but unfunky groove at times, notably on ‘Sands Of Time’, indicating a much more commercial direction, but the closer it gets the more it shies away, like a magic spell constantly being broken. Very frustrating.

And just when you think the recording has lost something by taking an obvious route on the map, they come up with the fabulous ‘The Arcane Exploration Part 2’. A tight, racy, emotionally loaded construction, with everybody firing on whatever number of cylinders today’s Prog bands fire on.

Universe Calls is never easy listening. It takes time and work. Worth it though. ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)