This is the first new album for about ten years from Prog Metal band Cea Serin and it is great to see that the standards are still very high.
Massive guitars, powerful hammering drums and expressive vocals are the mark of the band, with Jay Lamm‘s powerful and versatile voice making the most of the lyrics. Lamm has composed the music and lyrics for the entire album and also recorded all the rhythm guitars, fretted and fretless basses, and keyboards, with longtime bandmate Rory Faciane contributing drums and percussion. The basic band are ably supported by the likes of Andy Gillion (solo and ex-Mors Principium Est), Dann Hoyos (Rise to Fall), Vick LeCar (solo artist), Steve Blaze (Lillian Axe), Steffi Cannelli (Cirque du Soleil), João Miguel (solo artist, Enblood, Adamantine), Manuel Acevedo (SAUDA), Cecillia Cuccolini, and Coen Strouken (Circus of Fools, Eluveitie).
They exploit the differences between massive riffs and power chords set against sudden drops in the intensity to feature a tinkling piano and single vocal, the whole album feeling like a true rollercoaster of dynamic music – the music demands a system capable of reproducing the dynamics and this feels like music that should be played live.
Of the six tracks, none come in at less than 10 minutes, but every track is an album in itself – sections, themes and huge variations in level.
The quality of the musicianship is stunning, Andy Gillion, Dann Hoyos, Vick LeCar, Steve Blaze all supplying guitar playing of a wondrous standard and Rory Faciane’s drums the heartbeat of the whole album. Lamm’s bass playing is brilliant and he has a deft way with a keyboard too.
Ten years is a long gestation for an album, but the result is worth it – exhilarating and exultant in turns.
