Introduction
We are thrilled to review “Nascence” the latest album by The Aphelion which has been released today! Marking the beginning of a two-part musical journey, with the second instalment titled “Senescence” to be released at a later date.
The Aphelion is a dynamic progressive metal band hailing from Ottawa, Canada. Established in 2015, the group consists of Evan Haydon-Selkirk (Vocals/Bass), James Cabral (Guitar/Keyboard), Tyler Davis (Guitar/Backing Vocals), and Nathanael Livingstone (Drums).
Their music resonates deeply with listeners, delivering a powerful experience that hits your soul. With plenty of flair, emotionally charged lyrics, and exceptional skill on their respective instruments, their sound is something to be heard!
Having shared the stage with the likes of Protest The Hero, Alestorm, and Ne Obliviscaris they have shown they can rub shoulders with the best. Their music is a showcase of incredible instrument solos, which demonstrates both their individual talent and that they are a collective force to be reckoned with.
When discussing the album, Vocalist and Bassist Evan characterized Nascence as “Nascence musically has always been the calm before the storm, and while the songs are almost always rooted in metal, the album grows from a more classical-influenced, beautiful prog-rock flavoured sound to a fast, angry, teeth-gnashing finale.”
The stunning album cover and all accompanying artwork are crafted by the talented Alyssa Kusik from Thunder Bay, with each piece reflecting the essence of the songs within. Let’s dive right into it!
For Fans Of – Devin Townsend/ Opeth/ Haken
Review
The review will break down the album on a per song basis, where it adds something extra I will include a summarised snippet of the bands own thoughts for the song.
Pranascent
Right away, I’m intrigued. I knew that these guys were progressive, but wow! Being welcomed by what sounds like a violin and piano piece from 18th-century Austria caught me off guard. Over a minute later, rock elements emerge.
When the guitars and drums finally arrive they blend in seamlessly, creating a really interesting start to the album. I do wish it were a bit shorter; for a rock/metal album, I was hoping for a more explosive beginning.
Notes From The Band – Made up of parts of the other songs on the album, this song is meant to set the tone. Conceptually, it is meant to represent the birth of the album’s protagonist.
Nascence
Having waited the entire first song for vocals, waiting another minute into the second song feels like an eternity. I also find the horns don’t quite mesh with the song’s composition at the start – just my opinion; feel free to disagree! However, when the vocals finally kick in, their almost operatic and somber tone is something to behold.
The song’s lyrics touch on the fear of not fully experiencing life and of death. As the song progresses, the vocals grow in power and emotion. The guitar solos throughout the song are truly remarkable, and a real high point. The song’s standout moment for me is between 3:30 and 4:30, where the guitar switches to a darker tone, demonstrating how a song’s mood can shift without any lyrics. The song concludes with a bang, featuring heavy riffs and even blast beats!
The Seed Of Doubt
The track opens with intricate guitar, expertly paired with piano. The vocal gymnastics shown in this song are impressive: soaring high notes and delicate, subtle parts bring richness to the storytelling. The bold choice to incorporate both trumpet and saxophone pays off; unlike the horns in the earlier track, these instruments really work here. The listener is shown through the experience of discovering true love, only to see it turn bad. Conceptually, the album is starting to take form and really establish its identity.
Notes From The Band – This song is influenced by the 70s prog rock era and features guest appearances from Brian Asselin and Eric Littlewood. The themes cover the idea that new love is beautiful, but also demonstrate how distrust and control can ruin that relationship.
Fragility
The initial vocals in this track remind me of Muse, in a really great way. The ever-evolving vocal arrangement throughout keeps things interesting, that’s for sure.
As the drums and guitars enter, the song takes on an intense vibe, with vocals rising higher and tempo shifting. The fusion of classical and rock elements keeps me intrigued, offering a unique listening experience. There is also a guitar solo reminiscent of Santana, making me feel every. single. Note.
The Heavy Mist
As the protagonist’s paranoia begins to include his friends and family, the song takes on a fragmented quality that mirrors the character’s troubled mind. It feels as though the track is split into two distinct sections: the first half is softer, featuring beautiful chord progressions and harmonized vocals that, to me, could almost be voices echoing in the protagonist’s head.
In contrast, the latter half bursts forth with a blend of hard rock and death metal elements. Now, this is what I was hoping for! If I could choose a sound that The Aphelion stuck with, this would be it. With both clean and harsh vocals, the music not only captures my attention but grabs me by the collar and throws me right into the heart of the experience.
Flight
As soon as the first riff starts playing, I can tell that I’m going to be a fan of this song. It’s almost reminiscent of Slayer’s “Raining Blood” – and it really does draw me in! With its thrash-like elements, this song is the fastest-paced track on the album by a long way.
I wasn’t as caught off guard when the unclean vocals kicked in due to the previous song, but they are very much still welcome. I find it to be a refreshing addition to the album, adding depth and contrast to the clean vocals.
The song also contributes to the album’s storyline, portraying the protagonist’s attempt to escape his life before being dragged back. The death metal finish further showcases the album’s diversity. This is definitely my top pick from the record!
Notes From The Band – This track is an homage to thrash metal and prog death giants such as Gojira.
The Interloper
The repetitive, almost trance-inducing chords don’t do it for me, I’m afraid. Sure, it adds an almost creepy atmosphere to the track, but it grates me a little bit. I think this is unfortunately my least favorite song on the album.
Dare I say it, I think it’s too busy. It is hard to work out what is going on purely because there is too much happening. I’d say the track improves when the guitar solo hits around 4:15, but that’s too long into a song to really enjoy it. That does, however, kick off a solid section which I thoroughly enjoy towards the end of the track.
Deserter
The guitar kicks off the song at lightspeed, perfectly complemented by the precise drumming. The funky sections in this track are outstanding and serve as a standout moment on the album. Personally, I find the guitar solo from the 5-minute mark onwards to be fantastic, seamlessly leading into the song and album’s conclusion. The storyline of the song sets the stage for an intriguing continuation in the second album of the series.
Summary
Overall, I think this is a really interesting album, filled to the brim with technical skill and fantastic storytelling. Having that almost conceptual essence helps to drive home the album as a whole. I really enjoy the inclusion of unclean vocals alongside the clean in both “The Heavy Mist” and “Flight”, and those two tracks in particular are standout moments for me.
I personally think that the track times could have been shortened, leaving room for another song or two to further enhance the storyline. Ten tracks of shorter length I really do think would have been better than eight longer ones. Additionally, I’d have loved the vocals to have come in earlier. I could see how the long wait could make people think the album is purely instrumental and switch off.
I have to say, though, I cannot wait to see how the 2nd album in the series differs from this one. I’m hoping for more of the same, but tweaked.
7.5/10
Let us know what you think the album in the comments section!
All the songs/ images used in this review belong to their respective owners and I or this website does not claim any right over them. All images were provided by The Aphelion. The featured image is by Dark Moon Productions & the Artwork is by Alyssa Kusik.
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