Echoes Nature | Existence

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by Trevor Portz
Staff Writer

Progressive Rock and Metal are difficult genres to master. Based on the technical prowess necessary to truly compete in the Prog world, this may seem a fairly obvious statement. But musical proficiency is not the only element needed to make memorable Prog Rock. Without good songs and interesting melodies balancing out the tech side, listeners are left briefly impressed, but ultimately the band will be soon forgotten. Dream Theater, Magellan, and a small group of other bands have found this perfect balance, and have thus achieved lasting success. Hoping to take their place among the Prog elite, Venezuela’s Echoes have just released the epic Nature | Existence, and though not as refined as the aforementioned acts, they are within spitting distance of the right path.

Opening strong, bizarrely-titled instrumental intro “Epilogue (…Is Where We Start)” takes the epic soundscapes of Pink Floyd and blends them with the heaviness and complexity of modern Prog Metal. Its well-balanced mix of these styles not only serves as an overture for the album ahead, but also immediately shows the high-level talent possessed by the band members. After such a strong intro, follow-up “Rude Awakening” turns things around 180 degrees, as it is a mellow, soulful ballad. Though an excellent showcase for guest vocalist Carl Webb, the song ultimately does little more than kill the vibe created by the album opener. It would have been better place at a different point in the album so as not to interrupt the overall flow.

Things pick up again with “Leaf Motif” and instrumental “Lullaby,” with the latter acting as certainly the heaviest lullaby ever written, and leaving one to wonder what child would be soothed to sleep by its unsettling tones.

“Bonfires” and “Unfair” come and got without too much to rave about, though the Yngwie-esque chorus in “Unfair” is fun and memorable. “Seasons Come To Pass” is a forgettable interstitial piece, but it does lead in to the nice one-two punch of “Far From Coincidence” and “Despair.” Feeling like a single, longer track, the two songs are both quality prog exercises, though the latter is nearly destroyed by the cheesy and nauseating sax solo performed by the appropriately named Dave Duffus.

The ear-piercing sax makes another unfortunate appearance on oddly sappy and country-tinged ballad “Winds of Dread,” giving a sound much more Quarterflash than Queensryche.

“Farewell” and the pseudo-cleverly named counterpart to the intro, “Prologue (Where We End…),” are both above-average tracks and close out the album in a more calm but quality fashion.

Overall, Nature | Existence is a descent, if not amazing album. Though the musicianship is above average, what Echoes generally fail to do is “go all the way.” The Berklee-level, make-your-jaw-drop technical bits are too few and far between, and though many of the songs are well written, none stand out as the stellar-quality material commonly churned out by the masters of the prog world. Echoes would do well to crank things up a bit more, to at least an 8 or 9, as they currently seem stuck around 6. If not, they very well may live up their name and go down as little more than an echo of the bands they are working to emulate.

Label: Progrock Records
Web: www.echoes.com.ve

Band Lineup:
Javier Landaeta (guitar)
Antonio Silva (guitar)
Rafael Sequera (guitar)
Alfred Ovalles (keys, percussion, guitar)
Miguel Angel Moline (drums)
Jorge Rojas (bass)

Tracks:
1. Epilogue (…Is Where We Start)
2. Rude Awakening
3. Leaf Motif
4. Lullaby
5. Bonfires
6. Unfair
7. Seasons Come To Pass
8. Far From Coincidence
9. Despair
10. Winds of Dread
11. Farewell
12. Prologue (Where We End…)

Hardrock Haven rating: 6/10