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The brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Nicolas Chapel,
Demians is a project of musical artistry that sparks musical
intrigue, pushing the envelope for experimentation, yet keeping
the tuneful mindset within a accessible range of melodic ear
candy. Very much in the vein of Porcupine Tree, Radiohead,
and Riverside, Demians mixes dark passages, haunting strings
& pads, ethereal soundscapes, sound effects (not noises),
and the heavy metal versus the sweet melodramatic touch that
only Chapel can provide.
Musically, some of the tracks have the silent verse channeling
against the loud and heavy chorus format, it works well, prompting
mood swings when needed, particularly with cuts such as “Sapphire,”
“Sand,” and “The Perfect Symmetry,” yet consistent melodramatic
opuses such as the emotional indie/electronica of “Empire,”
the laid back moody “Unspoken,” or even the sub-acoustic turned
steadfast metallic “Shine” all expose a finite execution of
the melodies, whether it be on layers of guitars, synth pads,
or pianos.
For an album that was recorded, produced, and performed
by one person, Building an Empire has a big, rich & fat sound
(unlike a lot of ‘do it yourself’ recordings), surrounded
by lush amounts of reverb providing the spaciousness that
compliments the overall atmosphere – nearly making this an
audiophile recording. Building an Empire proves to be a strong
release in the scheme of evocative art rock, border lining
on modern college & prog - and in the world of where every
band jumps on the bandwagon, it won’t be surprising if this
type of sonic soulfulness (just like symphonic metal) will
be the next to be jumped on – however, we will look upon this
release as being one of the forefathers of the genre.
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