Clandestine The Invalid
by Joe Mis
Staff Writer
If you are looking for something just a little bit different, check out the LA-based underground prog metal quartet called Clandestine. Slated to release their first full length CD in mid-February, Clandestine seems poised to make the leap from local to national prominence.
The Invalid is the follow up to Clandestine’s 2006 debut EP and was produced by Sylvia Massy (System Of A Down, Tool). Blending elements from progressive rock, metal, pop, underground and electronica, Clandestine brings their own unique style to the world of female-fronted rock – refreshingly NOT trying to sound like Paramore. Heavy keyboards and synths share the stage with grinding guitars and big rhythm lines while supporting solid melodic vocals and decent songwriting.
June Park fronts Clandestine, proving herself to be a talented singer and good symth player. Park has a clear, soft and sweet voice and a good range. She is not operatic and doesn’t have the raw power of an Amy Lee or Amanda Sommerville, but she is very expressive and fluid when she sings. Dan Durakovich plays guitars and joins Park on the keys. He is a great rhythm player and generates some very big hooks and heavy riffs. Drummer Sammy J. Watson (The Apex Theory) and amazing bassist Mark Valencia provide a great one-two punch at the bottom end and are the backbone of the band.
The energetic “Fearless” kicks off the album with some fancy progressive keyboards and a nice rolling bass line and has an almost Rush meets Dream Theater feel to it. “Disappear In You” is driven mostly by Mark Valencia’s superb bass and Park’s powerful vocals and features an intense keyboard solo. The band plays a more conventional, guitar and bass driven rock tune with “Silent Sin,” one of the strongest tracks on the release. “Philistine” slams into the user with a full-on metal wall of guitars and massive drums, and some great vocals (even a touch of screamo) – this track makes full use of June Park’s vocal range. “Pretend” is a soft almost-ballad with an intricate bass line, smooth rolling chorus and a great bluesy guitar solo.
“Fracture” is an aggressive prog-metal track driven by bass and drums, and featuring a very intense vocal line buried amongst many tempo changes. Big drums and keyboards blend with growling rhythm guitars to keep the energy level high in “Dead To The World” while a moody bass line and somber lyrics make “Phantom Pain” a change of pace. Muffled vocals and eerie keys open the title track of “The Invalid” before the guitars kick in, and a handful of screamo vocals give this one a bit of a metalcore feel. Great keys, vocals and a prog guitar line allow the lighter toned“Comatose” to wrap the album in fine style.
There are very few weaknesses on The Invalid, and the listener really needs to nit-pick to find them. June Park has a great voice, but the band on the whole does not do all that much with backing or layered vocals – punching those up a bit would turn good tracks into great tracks. Not only a fine rhythm player, “Silent Sin” proves that Dan Durakovich can solo as well, but choses not to unleash the lead guitar on most tracks. A few more fills or short solos would be a step in the right direction. However these flaws are so minor that they barely are worth mentioning…
On the whole, The Invalid is wonderfully refreshing. The contrasts between the lightness of June Park’s voice and the intensity of the music sets Clandestine’s music apart from the pack. Surprisingly for a female-fronted act, June Park does not hog the spotlight. All members of Clandestine seem to be equally important to the music, and each knows their role – fine teamwork all around.
Nicely produced and well performed, The Invalid should appeal to fans of progressive metal, particularly the female-fronted variety. In fact, the many elements rolled into this album will appeal to fans of Evanescence, Dream Theater, Paramore, and Eyes Set To Kill.
Simple – get it.
Clandestine’s The Invalid will be released by Nightmare Records on 15 February 2011.
Genre: Progressive Metal
Band:
June Park – vocals, programming
Dan Durakovich – guitars, programming
Sammy J. Watson – drums
Mark Valencia – bass
Track Listing:
1. Fearless
2. Disappear In You
3. Silent Sin
4. Philistine
5. Pretend
6. Fracture
7. Dead to the World
8. Phantom Pain
9. The Invalid
10. Comatose
Label: Nightmare Records
Website: www.clandestineband.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10