COMMUNIC „Waves of Visual Decay”

Music: Modern Metal/Progressive
Country: Norway
Website: http://www.communic.org
Duration: 57.58


Cool Songs: Frozen Asleep in the Park, Under A Luminous Sky, Fooled By The Serpent, Waves of Visual Decay.

Needless to say, I was extremely pumped when this landed on my door step a week ago. Having completed the proverbial cartwheel and back flips routine over their 2005 debut effort – the simply stunning ‘Conspiracy in Mind’ – it was with much interest and expectation that I dropped this new full length into the old death deck.

Produced by Jacob Hansen at his own Hansen Studios, this Norwegian three piece – consisting of Oddleif Stensland (Grr/Vrr), Eric Mortensen (Brr) and Tor Alt Andersen (Drr) – have come up with an hour long seven track affair, each of which continues with the bands penchant for blending harmony, power, complex structures, time changes whilst keeping their feet firmly planted in the ‘metal’ camp rather than anything that night be construed as prog. You can underline that folks – these guys are heavy. Metal. Heavy!

Having said that, the influences that grace ‘Waves..’ is so wide reaching that fans of all forms of the game will find tremendous appeal here. And that has always been my stance with Communic – they are far more than the ‘Nevermore’ clone that so many ‘lazy’ scribes stamped on the bands forehead. Sure, the comparison is undeniable and obvious – yet as I stated about the debut, Communic are just as immersed in the style early Fates Warning/Psychotic Waltz/70’s Rush and Queensryche. Some folk need to get over the fact that Oddleif sounds like Warrel Dane. There is much more going on here. Besides, Warrel is god!

The obvious question for me when listening to ‘Waves..’ was could it top or at least match the magnificence of the debut? Clearly, the last year has been extremely fruitful the band and as a result, ‘Waves..’ is very much a developmental album. It is a tad more varied and multi-layered, has more fluidity between the light and dark elements of their sound and is perhaps a little more complex. As such, this album requires a repeated listens to fully absorb the ideas employed here. Still, there is no denying the power and melodic accessibility of Communic’s song writing. And that is perhaps their greatest strength among their sprawling, epic laden multi-faceted beasts – their song orientation. They never forget the bottom line. Self indulgent is not part of the Communic program here folks.

Right down to the stunning guitar crunch; the sonically pleasing production and the powerful, emotive laden vocals of Oddleif Stensland, ‘Waves…’ just gets better with every listen. Communic have proven that their debut is no ‘one shot’ at glory. I’m not convinced that they have actually stepped up to another level with this disc, but clearly it is just as captivating. One of the more interesting, convincing and thoroughly essential metal bands of the current day! Do yourself a favour….

note: 9

Tracklist

Under A Luminous Sky
Frozen Asleep In The Park
Watching It All Disappear
Fooled By The Serpent
Waves Of Visual Decay
My Bleeding Victim
At Dewy Prime

Line-up

Oddleif Stensland – Guitars & Vocals
Tor Atle Andersen – Drums
Erik Mortensen – Bass