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Sylvan’s first true concept album “Posthumous Silence”
uses a unique back story to create a memorable prog rock classic.
The band’s fifth album focuses on a father who discovers the
inner life of his missing daughter from her diary. It’s the
band’s most accomplished and complete album yet. Although
the metaphorical story is vague and not completely thought
through to its conclusion, it’s a memorable and ambitious
project. Using the metaphor of the relationship of the father
and daughter as a window into our relationship with our world,
Sylvan constructs a fascinating soundscape that features the
rich sound effects and evocative atmospherics of prime Pink
Floyd while avoiding the pitfall of being over sentimental
that the narrative offers. Combining elements of classic symphonic
prog rock with a harder prog metal edtge “Posthumous Silence”
manages to be both unique and original. ***
Opening with the atmospheric “Eternity Ends” “Bequest
of Tears” builds on the opening tracks sense of mystery and
unease. “In Chains” opens with soaring guitars and vocals
as we hear about Violet’s inner world. This little girl lost
longs for security in a fearful world. As the father reads
through his diary he realizes the depth of her despair but,
more importantly, how he missed all the cries for help. “Bitter
Symphony” provides a brief interlude as the father feels anguish
at both his loss and lost opportunity. Ironically midway through
the album the character of the father in “No Earthly Reason”
realizes that his daughter meant for his to find her diary
all along. ***
Although it’s far from a perfectly realized disc, “Posthumous
Silence” promises outstanding things from this young band.
Although some reviewers have expressed that the album might
be a bit too ballad heavy I actually felt that given the story
the presentation of the music worked perfectly. Bravo to a
band trying on a concept outside of what most prog rock bands
are doing with intelligence and completely unafraid to embrace
the past and the present in prog rock.
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