Showing posts with label Canvas of Silence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canvas of Silence. Show all posts

11/13/2014

Progressive Rock Review: Rainburn-Canvas of Silence

Release Date:  7th November 2014
Label: Self Released

This release is another “newie” to The Ancient One and would probably have remained under my aural radar if it hadn’t landed on my desk for review. The band is Rainburn and the release is a 5 track EP entitled Canvas Of Silence. Rainburn is an Indian progressive band, formed towards the end of 2011 and then having got together, they spent time rehearsing until into 2012 when they started doing live appearances. Initially the band did cover versions of material originally recorded by Rush, Alice In Chains and Porcupine Tree, and also recorded and released 2 demo tracks, but a few changes in personnel led to a subsequent change in sound. The original keyboards disappeared to be replaced by a second guitarist filling the gap.

Rainburn is a 4 piece outfit, comprising, Vats Iyengar (vocals, guitar), Toshimoa Jamir (guitar), Shishir Gupta (bass) and Praveen Kumar (drums), with the resulting change in the sound drawing comparisons more in the areas of Dream Theater, Megadeth and Stevie Vai.

Canvas of Silence is a 5 track EP, or mini album as some bands refer to them, with a total playing time of around the 28 minute mark. The penultimate track, “Time Turns Round,” is the shortest on offer at 2:59 minutes and the final track, “Fragments,” is the longest running for close on 8 minutes. (7:44)

The opening track on Canvas of Silence is “Refuge” (5:23) and enters with the sound of a rainstorm, leading into some excellent guitar work followed by the very tight rhythm engine. The track seems to move between the more “dreampop” and “heavy prog” genres which appears to be a characteristic of the band. Gentle melodic passages with a powerful vocalist, lead almost unsuspectingly into the heavier areas and then move back again. This opening track allows the band members the chance to “show their wares” and is an excellent starting point for this release.

The title track, “Canvas of Silence” (5:38) follows and is a step away from the “dreaminess” of the opener with more aggressive bass and guitars and a deeper throaty sound to the vocals. This is a more varied track vocally and the excellent Vats Iyengar gets to demonstrate his versatile range. The track has some superb little hooks and continues the feeling of satisfaction the listener picked up from the opening track.

“Veil” (6:11), track three, starts with a slower tempo and a very distinct Eastern sound, before some blistering guitar ushers the vocals into the mix. The highlight of this track is the almost hypnotic rhythms that permeate its length. There is more of the blistering guitar appears from time to time but the melodic overview of the track is never far away. If anything, the vocal is the least impressive on this track as at times the voice seems to be straining, beyond what is necessary.

The penultimate track, “Time Turns Around” (2:59) is the shortest, and the most gentle, melodic song on offer, and shows another side of the band. Perhaps it is the shortness of the track, but the evolution from melodic to heavy never appears and it makes the song interesting in a different way.

The final, and longest track, “Fragments” (7:44) enters with some terrific guitar riffs as the guitars play off against each other, one is choppy and heavy and the other strummed and melodic. Crystal clear vocals drive this song, riding high above the dual guitars, as they veer in and out, drawing the listener deeper into the song. The title sums the track up, as the tempo and drive shift so many times, but the fragments merge together expertly and at no time does it feel in any way disjointed. This is a terrific finale to this 5 track release.

Over the 28 minutes or so of Canvas of Silence, Rainburn successfully demonstrate that they are a band who will achieve many things. The lasting feeling once the mini album has finished is that here we have a band that is taking the first steps on a road that leads upwards into the higher levels of prog music. I have no qualms about placing both stickers “One to Buy” and “The Experience will last Forever” on the cover and suggest that if you like progressive music that shows a little freshness, look no further than Canvas of Silence by Rainburn. I am looking forward to seeing (or should I say, hearing) where Rainburn go from here.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Canvas of Silence, Time Turns Around, Fragments

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk

November 13, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk



Progressive Rock Review: Rainburn-Canvas of Silence

Release Date:  7th November 2014
Label: Self Released

This release is another “newie” to The Ancient One and would probably have remained under my aural radar if it hadn’t landed on my desk for review. The band is Rainburn and the release is a 5 track EP entitled Canvas Of Silence. Rainburn is an Indian progressive band, formed towards the end of 2011 and then having got together, they spent time rehearsing until into 2012 when they started doing live appearances. Initially the band did cover versions of material originally recorded by Rush, Alice In Chains and Porcupine Tree, and also recorded and released 2 demo tracks, but a few changes in personnel led to a subsequent change in sound. The original keyboards disappeared to be replaced by a second guitarist filling the gap.

Rainburn is a 4 piece outfit, comprising, Vats Iyengar (vocals, guitar), Toshimoa Jamir (guitar), Shishir Gupta (bass) and Praveen Kumar (drums), with the resulting change in the sound drawing comparisons more in the areas of Dream Theater, Megadeth and Stevie Vai.

Canvas of Silence is a 5 track EP, or mini album as some bands refer to them, with a total playing time of around the 28 minute mark. The penultimate track, “Time Turns Round,” is the shortest on offer at 2:59 minutes and the final track, “Fragments,” is the longest running for close on 8 minutes. (7:44)

The opening track on Canvas of Silence is “Refuge” (5:23) and enters with the sound of a rainstorm, leading into some excellent guitar work followed by the very tight rhythm engine. The track seems to move between the more “dreampop” and “heavy prog” genres which appears to be a characteristic of the band. Gentle melodic passages with a powerful vocalist, lead almost unsuspectingly into the heavier areas and then move back again. This opening track allows the band members the chance to “show their wares” and is an excellent starting point for this release.

The title track, “Canvas of Silence” (5:38) follows and is a step away from the “dreaminess” of the opener with more aggressive bass and guitars and a deeper throaty sound to the vocals. This is a more varied track vocally and the excellent Vats Iyengar gets to demonstrate his versatile range. The track has some superb little hooks and continues the feeling of satisfaction the listener picked up from the opening track.

“Veil” (6:11), track three, starts with a slower tempo and a very distinct Eastern sound, before some blistering guitar ushers the vocals into the mix. The highlight of this track is the almost hypnotic rhythms that permeate its length. There is more of the blistering guitar appears from time to time but the melodic overview of the track is never far away. If anything, the vocal is the least impressive on this track as at times the voice seems to be straining, beyond what is necessary.

The penultimate track, “Time Turns Around” (2:59) is the shortest, and the most gentle, melodic song on offer, and shows another side of the band. Perhaps it is the shortness of the track, but the evolution from melodic to heavy never appears and it makes the song interesting in a different way.

The final, and longest track, “Fragments” (7:44) enters with some terrific guitar riffs as the guitars play off against each other, one is choppy and heavy and the other strummed and melodic. Crystal clear vocals drive this song, riding high above the dual guitars, as they veer in and out, drawing the listener deeper into the song. The title sums the track up, as the tempo and drive shift so many times, but the fragments merge together expertly and at no time does it feel in any way disjointed. This is a terrific finale to this 5 track release.

Over the 28 minutes or so of Canvas of Silence, Rainburn successfully demonstrate that they are a band who will achieve many things. The lasting feeling once the mini album has finished is that here we have a band that is taking the first steps on a road that leads upwards into the higher levels of prog music. I have no qualms about placing both stickers “One to Buy” and “The Experience will last Forever” on the cover and suggest that if you like progressive music that shows a little freshness, look no further than Canvas of Silence by Rainburn. I am looking forward to seeing (or should I say, hearing) where Rainburn go from here.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Canvas of Silence, Time Turns Around, Fragments

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk

November 13, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk



10/09/2014

Band Feature: Rainburn-Canvas of Silence

Rainburn is Indo-­progressive rock group based in Bangalore India. They informed me of their music and I was immediately impressed with their diversity and complex arrangements.

The stream provided are samples of each track so you get a good idea of where this band is coming from. Because it is more than one track and I was so impressed with this young band I decided to make them our first indie feature on the site.

Canvas of Silence offers "Refuge" and it begins with a reminder of influences from prog metal gods Dream Theater then the vocals kick in and you are further impressed by the range and delivery of that first passage. There is bountiful talent amongst the members of this band. I expect some great things to come from them in the coming years.

Our global communication and awareness is a wonderful thing when it comes to discovering new music. Click on the provided media player to get a taste of prog rock from India!



More About Rainburn:

http://artistecard.com/rainburn

Rainburn is an Indo-­progressive rock group based in Bangalore. Founded in August 2011, the band has performed in several cities across southern India and received acclaim for the originality of their music, their instrumental and vocal abilities and engaging stage act.

Rainburn's music fuses progressive rock trademarks such as adventurous song structures and unusual time signatures with melodies that subtly evoke a rich Indian heritage, in a distinctly song-­oriented fashion. In the 3 years since its formation, Rainburn has steadily garnered a fervent group of fans and regular concert attendees. The band's debut EP, 'Canvas of Silence', is scheduled to be released in November 2014.

In addition to playing original material, the group also covers songs by a diverse range of artists, including Dream Theater, Rush, Porcupine Tree, Karnatrix and King Crimson, and a classic rock medley comprising songs by Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Deep Purple and The Doors.

Rainburn is:

Vats Iyengar - lead vocals, guitar

Toshimoa Jamir - guitar, backing vocals

Shishir Gupta - bass, backing vocals

Praveen Kumar - drums