Norwegian proggers Oak bring us their 3rd studio album The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise and, in their own words, their most dynamic to date. The band is comprised of Simen Valldal Johannessen on vocals and keys, Stephan Hvinden on guitars, Sigbjørn Reiakvam on drums, and Øystein Sootholtet on bass. Before providing any specifis insights about the music here… this is a fantastic album.
Melancholic to the core, melodic as it can be, unique sounding as only Oak can deliver… there are a few sharp edges, but the music is not as complex as it seems, a few electronic touches here and there, nuances of progressive metal, and lots of psychedelic, symphonic and Neo prog influences… the result is outstanding. Most of the songs are progressive in nature, they develop as they go, mostly mellow at the beginning but heavier and more anthemic towards the end, it is hard to stop listening to it.
“Highest Tower, Deepest Well” opens the album introducing the atmospheric dart with the gently piano, the sampled electronic percussion and the heavy and fat riffing, a blueprint that will repeat itself (without repeating itself) song after song, perfect terrain for the pseudo-baritone sounding vocals, hypnotic in every pore thanks to the haunting melodies and the spectacular instrumentation. The first releases single “Quiet Rebellion” follows substituting the piano with the beautiful acoustic arpeggios accompanied by the electric soloing and an outstanding rhythmic section, tight and precise, beautiful stuff. “Dreamless Sleep” takes us further into the electronic territory but without abandoning the progressive structure, with more room for the vocals to bloom and tell the story. At this point is has become clear that the darkness of the music on this album is unequivocally parallel to the mental health (suicide, loneliness, desperation) problems addressed through the lyrical content. A concept very well crafted and executed.
“Sunday 8 AM” is sad and mellow, but it possesses some of the best arrangements on the entire album, a musical journey that slowly builds relaying on the phenomenal drumming and the exquisite piano-guitar tandem… and some tasty sax as well! To best describe the music on this record, mix some Airbag, Pineapple Thief and Major Parkinson and stir it with a little Pink Floyd and modern Opeth… can’t go wrong, right? But the best part is yet to come because the 2nd half of the album is even better, darker, more melodic, more prog and more memorable. “Demagogue Communion” has hook written all over it, with memorable melodies, amazing vocal harmonies, and great guitar work, enchanting! The second single, the epic “Paperwings” is without a doubt my favorite song of the album but is also a grower. The initial couple of minutes might mislead the listener to think the electronic percussion and the dark narrative vocalization will take him further down into a hole from where he will never get out… a mirage… it opens, and blooms, and evolves, and delivers everything we like in modern prog music, magnificent. “Guest of Honour” is the song that is closest of all to being pop, with both a spectacular lyrical content and an immediate hook… I let you in to get me out… There’s a couple of moments where the band teases with previous material, particularly with some of the melodies, but this album provides new and different turns and twists never heard before from the band, and the rhythmic section has a lot do with it, good material here. Cheers!
Track Listing:
- Highest Tower, Deepest Well (5:58)
- Quiet Rebellion (4:51)
- Dreamless Sleep (5:37)
- Sunday 8 AM (5:55)
- Demagogue Communion (6:16)
- Paperwings (13:52)
- Guest of Honor (7:03)
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
