Gnostic - Splinters Of Change
	Released: 2005 Label: self-released Cat. No.: n/a Total Time:
	Reviewed by: Jan-Mikael Erakare, January 2006 Evaluation: Former Atheist drummer Steve Flynn's new band Gnostic is simultaneously a return to form and a portent of things to come… Produced by Atheist-alumnus Kelly Shaefer, Gnostic's Splinters Of Change blurs the lines between thrash, death and modern metal… Analysis: Hmmm … twin guitars; slapped bass-lines; tempo changes; harsh vocals; band named for a school of thought; the drummer from Atheist; produced by the singer/guitarist from said band…. Atheist wrote chord progressions that provided a melodic bed for the "witchy" vocals of front-man Shafer, thereby adding a dimension to their music that allowed the listener who didn't like the deathly vocals to still have something to engage them, whereas Gnostic leans toward the anti-melodic ferocity of bands like Sadus, opting for an anti-melodic approach that favors simplistic harmonic material over compositional daring. Atheist excelled at writing guitar and bass parts that worked together using counterpoint and other classical and jazz-inspired techniques; Gnostic, no less technical rhythmically, rely instead on hyper-kinetic, angular atonality and angst-ridden hardcore shouting to punctuate their "slice and dice" take on aggression. The sum of the parts was always greater than the whole with Atheist … I wanted desperately to hear some dynamic tension and release from Gnostic throughout this disc … a melodic fragment, or a thematic guitar line here and there to give the listener respite and context… Rating: 4-/5 (the minus is for under-utilizing the 2nd guitar player…or the 1st…) Summary: Gnostic lacks a defining element (pun intended) that will give them a unique sound and their own identity… More about Splinters Of Change: Track Listing: Violently Calm / Wall Of Lies / Corrosive / Splinters Of Change / Mind Lock Musicians: Sonny Carson - guitars Steve Flynn - drums Kevin Freeman - vocals Stephen Morley - bass Todd Simpson - guitars Contact: Website: www.gnosticmusic.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Splinters Of Change (2005)
	[Review Index]  [Home]  [Top] © Copyright 1999 - 2006 ProgressiveWorld.net/Jan-Mikael Erakare