Gone In April: Threads Of Existence

Having made quite an impact with their 2011 debut We Are But Human, the then multi-international act Gone In April set about enhancing their reputation through festival slots at, amongst others, WaveTransform and The Great Indian Octoberfest, the latter of which they co-headlined. Band reshuffles go some way to explaining the five year downtime between albums, but now with ex-members of Quo Vadis, Testament, Iced Earth, Death, Vivaldi Metal Project and MAG Project onboard, Gone By April are back with their Threads Of Existence.

At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss GIA as yet another set of Epica or Nightwish clones and yet while that familiar female fronted with male backing symphonic metal bombast is undoubtedly where this band spend much of their time, it's impossible to ignore just how damn progressive, technical and heavy they are. This now Canadian-American unit may sound decidedly European in construction but with the frankly jaw dropping guitar work from Marc-Andr� Gingras ripping out hefty riffage that darts and harries at every opportunity, it's his input that opens doors into the land of the progressives. Drummer Yanic Bercier is his equal, but be warned that if overly industrious percussive work gives you the willies, then much of the constant gallop of kick drum, tom rattles and snare shots may have you lying down for a week to recover. Throughout this entire album this is one drummer desperate to show every he's got� over and over. He's skilled beyond belief and yet with his efforts high in the mix, there's no doubt his contribution verges on domination.

Female-male vocal trade-offs may well be the norm in this setting, yet it has to be said that along with the ever roaming bass work from Steve Di Giorgio, it's the combination of Julie Belanger Roy and Aaron Rogers that stands out. On the likes of the cheerfully titled "As Hope Welcomes Death" (nothing here is cheerfully titled), the wide ranging but always in control Roy illustrates a real sense of drama and poise, while Rogers brings that gruff, non-clean (but never quite growled) counterpoint. That the folk infused "Embracing The Light" allows the also violin and viola playing Roy to reveal a folk laced, but no less forceful side, illustrates her diversity well.

However with "Relentless" the full on progressive/power metal workout its name suggests and "The Curtain Will Rise" more overtly symphonic in its drum clattering attack, the way in which the album covers a variety of styles without ever feeling disjointed, is impressive. Although, if you're looking for some relief from what is a gloomy, almost gothic attack, then you won't find much of that here, with Threads Of Existence being maybe slightly over earnest in execution. Still, with this album offering something a little different from the norm in a genre that often feels exhausted of new ideas, Gone In April are certainly an outfit worthy of considered investigation.

Track Listing
1. Dawn of Time
2. The Curtain Will Rise
3. Our Future Line
4. Remember the Days
5. As Hope Welcomes Death
6. Embracing the Light
7. A Million Souls Gather
8. Relentless
9. The Great Contemplation
10. The Will to End a Life

Added: November 20th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
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Language: english

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