Awake have been around for a fair few years now, although you might not have heard of them. Main reason for that would be that until a little over a year ago the band were known not as Awake, but rather as Humanity. Based in Cambridge, the 6 piece prog metal band have been drawing apparent rave reviews recently, such billings as "The Saviors Of British Progressive Metal" and "The English Evergrey" among them. Pretty weighty statements for a band to throw about, after all, how many records have Evergrey sold now?
The Evergrey comparison I guess can be excused, what with Evergrey singer/songwriter Tom Englund credited on the album, he produced and recorded the album for Awake having met them at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival in 2005. Part of the name change involved shedding Steve Wallace who had been playing guitar for the band since their formation in 2000 and compacting down to a 5 piece.
But enough rambling about who they are, what does 'Illumination' bring to the table? Well in truth not a whole lot for anything but the most hardcore of Prog Metal fans, that is to say nothing of great excitement at any rate. With no knock on the production which is superb on the album as you would expect, it just never gets going. Each of these 11 songs is solid in the sense that not a single one of them are bad, but nothing leaps out and grabs you. It's the kind of CD you throw on when you've got people coming round for drinks, and hardly notice it in the background. so it's not hideous.
It would have been nice to hear more from the band, but it would seem that the new "heavier sound" has been hidden behind. Yes, it's heavier than most prog metal albums, but no that doesn't make it standout, infact, it hides it even more.
Hardcore Prog Metal fans will like 'Illumination' but those who only have a passing interest in the genre this does not stand up.
Lineup:
Simon Shedwell - Lead and Backing Vocals
Richard Hall - Lead, Rhythm and acoustic guitars and backing vocals
Chris Le Mottee - Bass
Craig Burkitt - Keyboards and Piano
Alex Townsend - Drums and Percussion
Track Listing: 1. Disbelief2. Retribution3. Crime of Passion4. Choices in Time5. Begin Again6. The price you have to pay7. Dream within8. Illumination9. Forgiven now forever10. My last goodbye11. Shadows
The Evergrey comparison I guess can be excused, what with Evergrey singer/songwriter Tom Englund credited on the album, he produced and recorded the album for Awake having met them at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival in 2005. Part of the name change involved shedding Steve Wallace who had been playing guitar for the band since their formation in 2000 and compacting down to a 5 piece.
But enough rambling about who they are, what does 'Illumination' bring to the table? Well in truth not a whole lot for anything but the most hardcore of Prog Metal fans, that is to say nothing of great excitement at any rate. With no knock on the production which is superb on the album as you would expect, it just never gets going. Each of these 11 songs is solid in the sense that not a single one of them are bad, but nothing leaps out and grabs you. It's the kind of CD you throw on when you've got people coming round for drinks, and hardly notice it in the background. so it's not hideous.
It would have been nice to hear more from the band, but it would seem that the new "heavier sound" has been hidden behind. Yes, it's heavier than most prog metal albums, but no that doesn't make it standout, infact, it hides it even more.
Hardcore Prog Metal fans will like 'Illumination' but those who only have a passing interest in the genre this does not stand up.
Lineup:
Simon Shedwell - Lead and Backing Vocals
Richard Hall - Lead, Rhythm and acoustic guitars and backing vocals
Chris Le Mottee - Bass
Craig Burkitt - Keyboards and Piano
Alex Townsend - Drums and Percussion
1. Disbelief2. Retribution3. Crime of Passion4. Choices in Time5. Begin Again6. The price you have to pay7. Dream within8. Illumination9. Forgiven now forever10. My last goodbye11. Shadows