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Treading a line between grassroots progressive metal and
more highly sophisticated neo-classically tinged power metal,
France’s Spheric Universe Experience pulls it off, raising
the sophistication up a bar or two, keeping the finite metal
approach in full force and all jam sessions in tact for full
blown technical fluidity throughout the release known as Anima.
Like Vox Tempus and Age of Nemesis, they perplex highly
skilled chops that we can relate to, but add some over the
top precisional techniques of say, Shadow Gallery, and the
powerful drive of Silent Force; and the compositional stature
is established. You have to hand it to the melodic drive of
axeman Vince Benaim and keyboardist/pianist Fred Colombo,
their brilliance leads arpeggios, staccato riddled manifestations,
& key changes, running through the serene to the aggressive
melodies, for which is all fronted by the ‘DeYoung’ voiced
Franck Garcia. “End of Trauma,” the aggressive “Sceptic,”
the sub-jazzed “World of Madness,” and the dark “Heal my Pain”
expose the songsmith caliber of the band, while three instrumentals,
“Being,” the ethereal “Stormy Dome,” and the finale, “Black
Materia” adds more fodder, not only to the MI/Berklee crowd,
but to just about anybody’s ears who thirst for good complex
tunes.
Anima isn’t a dark record, it’s very bright and intense,
with a brooding moment here and there; but it’s all about
the hastily executed compositions that are built upon the
hooks & riffs. Spheric Universe Experience has proven themselves
to be a new trendsetter within the ‘sphere’ of aggressive
& highly technical heavy metal, where the fluidity of Anima
is an ‘experience’ unto itself.
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