Tears Memories of Things Unnecessary
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
Memories of Things Unnecessary is the debut offering from Tears, a Los Angeles (by way of Athens and London) band that seems quite determined to challenge the status quo. Attaching a label to this band is almost pointless, as Tears defies easy categorization. There are elements of progressive metal, melodic rock and gothic metal, with plenty of experimentation. The closest point of comparison (and it’s pretty damned close) is Australian band Voyager, but there are elements of Pain of Salvation, Vintersorg and perhaps Porcupine Tree as well.
Intended as an EP that whets the appetite for the band’s upcoming full-length, Memories of Things Unnecessary starts with “Time Master,” a song that hits hard, hits fast and leaves you wondering just what the hell you’re in for. Just as you start to think you have the band’s style pegged (dark, heavy, proggy) “Things Imaginary” comes on with its lush piano work (courtesy of Maja Mitrovic) and some moving vocals. Singer (and guitarist/keyboardist/chief songwriter) Gouaime Divanis sounds a lot like Vintersorg, with a deep and harmonious voice and a terrific range. This ever-changing formula is evident throughout the album, where you’re as likely to find heavy, metallic rockers alongside haunting atmospheric instrumentals. The first two thirds of Memories of Things Unnecessary, which are devoted to the “Time Master” and “Things Imaginary” suites, are truly an avant-garde affair, and bring to mind some of Borknagar’s more adventurous moments (think Origin) as well as Pain of Salvation back when they were making progressive metal (think Remedy Lane).
Unfortunately it’s not always that good. The back third of the album is dedicated to the “Trendy De-commercialization” suite, a 3-part blitz of atmospheric keyboards, frenzied electronics and a spoken word manifesto. You have to admire the band’s ambition, and their message does resonate, but you can’t help but feel they would have been much better off with some actual songs. Still, that’s something every forward-thinking progressive band has to deal with, and Tears seems better poised to do that than, say, Pain of Salvation. It will certainly be interesting to see what the band comes up with next.
Fans of the “sounds like Dream Theater” school of progressive metal will no doubt recoil in horror at what Tears has crafted here, but anyone interested in truly progressive music that expands the boundaries and shows real innovation should absolutely give Memories of Things Unnecessary a try. It’s not a perfect album by any means, but when it’s good it’s almost terrifyingly good.
Genre: Progressive Metal
Band:
Gouaime Divanis (v)(g)(k)
Nick Blackeye (b)
Tassos Degligiannis (d)
Track Listing:
1. Time Master
2. Things Imaginary
3. Time Master – Memories
4. Time Master – I Just Want To Forget
5. Things Imaginary – A Childhood Dream
6. Things Imaginary – A Hurtful Reality
7. Trendy De-commercialization – Sleeping Level 9, Hypnotic Patterns…Consuming Zombies
8. Trendy De-commercialization – Awakening, Products We Don’t Need…Mind Manipulating Tactics of Greed
9. Trendy De-commercialization – Going Back to Sleep, This Time Free…A New Age Born…?
Label: none
Website: www.tearsband.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10