Nemesis - Eden?

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Sensory
Catalog Number: SR3015
Format: CD
Total Time: 53:25:00

Nemesis is another Hungarian Prog Metal band in a long line of bands that seem to keep emerging from that country as of late. While there are many comparisons to their country mates, one thing that does differ is that Nemesis had released this disc some time ago, with Hungarian lyrics, long before Hungary started putting out prog metal bands. Seems that back then, Nemesis had 2 discs worth of material written in Hungarian, and Sensory had the band re-release the best music in English, and Eden? is the final result.

Like most Sensory bands, Nemesis is a very progressive band. They have a sound that combines the heaviness of metal, with the influences of prog rock, with a touch of folk throw in for uniqueness. They drive their sound with a strong guitar crunch, heavy keyboards, and progressive elements. The softer sounds remind me a lot of Eloy, while some of the heavier parts remind of Stonehenge, another Hungarian prog metal band. You certainly get a good dose of songs, which range in time from 5:50 to 10:26. The songs are well written, at times disjointed and choppy, and at others quiet down to a soft folksy / jazzy passage which gives off a surreal, atmospheric feeling. You get the best of both worlds with this band. Prog metal heads should like the heavy, crunchy guitar, while prog rock folks should go for the keyboard-driven melodies and quirky songwriting approach. It?s a very atmospheric disc overall, with the progressive music inside encased by its surreal imagery, sort of like a Progressive Metal version of Eloy if you will. The music can be quite beautiful, melodic, and then at other times can be quite aggressive and scratch you like sandpaper.

The singer, Zoltan Kiss, is a talented singer, albeit with a nasally tone which I liken to many Hungarian singers. He has traces of accent, keeps good melodies with the music, but to the unforgiving could be on the irritating side. He is not afraid to hit a high note now and then, but mostly remains in a comfortable mid-range throughout the disc. He harmonizes well, and brings out the music more than adequately.

The production is bright, crisp and naturally dry. I've noticed this approach with many bands, including top name prog metal acts, and although I?m not a fan of the sound totally, it does work if given a chance. Of note, the vocals are recorded totally dry, no effects, no gimmicks. At times, this does not work well with the music, which can be quite symphonic, and the crunching guitars can overpower the voice somewhat.

If you are looking for something different in your progressive metal, then Nemesis should fit the bill perfectly. I would highly recommend that you do enjoy some form of progressive rock elements, or true metal heads might be a bit disappointed, but in its truest form of progressive music, Nemesis provides an adequate definition of the term on all counts.

In/by 2006, the band changed their name to Age of Nemesis -ed.

Tracklisting:
Reality?s Door (7:05) / Predestination (5:28) / Four Mirrors (6:36) / Eden? (9:32) / Faith (Instrumental) (3:15) / Eternal Circle - I. Journey With Light II. Dismal Sorrow (10:26) / Escape (5:33) / Viragenek (Hungarian Folksong) (5:29)

Musicians:
Chad Bero (Csaba Berczelly) - bass, vocals
Nad Dury (Gyorgy Nagy) - keyboards
Zed (Zoltan) Fabian - guitars, vocals
Les Grand (Laszlo Nagy) - drums
Ian Lamb (Zoltan Kiss) - vocals

Discography:
Nemesis (1998)
Abraxas (1999)
For Promotional Use Only (promo) (2001)
Eden? (2002)
Terra Incognita (2002, Hungary only)
Age of Nemesis - Psychogeist (2006)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin HU

Added: January 1st 2003
Reviewer: Larry "LarryD" Daglieri
Score:
Artist website: www.ageofnemesis.com
Hits: 2895
Language: english