Release Date: 24th
January 2016
Label: Freia
Music
Sebas
Honing is a multi-instrumentalist who hails from The Netherlands. Sebas is also
a composer and producer, as well as being known for his guitar work in Equisa
(prog metal) and 5150, a Van Halen tribute band. Together with his partner,
Petra, he also fronts the acoustic duo, Mr. and Mrs. Honey. With all this going
on, it makes you wonder where he finds the time to release solo material, with
his latest offering being The Big Shift.
This release follows on from Songs of Oceans and Seas, a concept album relating to water, and From Middle to East, another concept
album tracing a journey from Turkey, through India and on to Indonesia. The
former follows a musical journey through rock/pop to prog rock/metal with the
latter combining prog rock/metal with traditional music from the countries the
journey passed through.
The band formed to record The Big Shift, also led to the formation of a live band which will
have debuted on the 24th of January this year. The four people
involved in the recording of The Big Shift were, Sebas (vocals, guitar, bass
and keyboards), Petra Honing (lead and backing vocals), Christiaan Bruin (drums
and backing vocals) and Tessa Struijs (backing vocals). Christiaan Bruin is
also a member of Sky Architect and Nine Stones Close, whilst also releasing
solo albums under the name of Chris.
The
Big Shift is again a concept album, of sorts, but with a more
personal link and relates to change that occurs at various points, such as
leaving home, getting rid of fears and the birth of his daughter. The Big Shift is a 15 track album with a
playing time of around 62 minutes. Tracks 1 and 15, “Big Shift” and “Lost,” form
the shortest and longest tracks on offer, with the former clocking in at 1:12
minutes and the latter running just short of 6 minutes (5:48).
The opening, and title, track, “Big Shift” (1:12) is an
atmospheric 25 seconds before the chunky power chords erupt. Some very tasty
guitar then takes the track out and into “Life (part I)” (5:13) which is a
totally different “kettle of fish.” Subtle strummed guitar leads into an almost
faltering, fragile vocal from Sebas, and then the track opens up when Petra’s
vocals join in. The track is more band orientated from this point as the music
slowly builds and there are some chunky chords before the guitar gets a chance
to “run free” with some excellent soaring themes.
These opening two tracks highlight the more melodic,
almost pop styled areas of the music as well as the more metallic sections and
it makes you eager to hear the rest of the album.
Tracks 3 and 4, “Ditching Fear” (4:15) and “Mercury Retrograde”
(4:00) continue this light/dark atmosphere before “OMG” (3:34) blasts out of
the speakers as a riff-laden thumper of a track together with a more strained
version of vocals.
“All of You” (4:06) quiets things down by several notches
and “Freedom” (4:47) is a slow building track, neither being reliant with the
more metallic side of Sebas. “Mild Smile” (4:48) is another of the gentler
examples from Sebas although the latter part of the track ramps up the soaring
guitar melodies again. “Full 180” (3:04) is a rampaging, thundering track which
drives out of the speakers and pummels your ears.
Cue a total change with the next track, “Flickering
Heart” (5:22) which demonstrates the ease with which Sebas can move from the
light into the dark, both between, and within, tracks. The penultimate track,
“Life (part II)” (4:52) is another thundering rocker before the finale, “Lost”
(5:48) which is an atmospheric moody track with bursts of metal to accentuate
the sections within the track.
The
Big Shift is an excellent album which seems to have used the
previous 2 releases as stepping stones to a new level. The Big Shift effortlessly fuses areas of lighter and darker moods
across and within the 15 tracks. One moment you are listening to the gentler,
laid back music, but Sebas has the ability to “up the ante” so quickly and
seamlessly, that you realize you are listening to a musician who is very
confident about what he is achieving.
I found The Big
Shift an extremely enjoyable 60+ minute listen and would suggest giving the
album a few plays. It is unlikely that you will feel any pangs of
disappointment.
4.5/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Life (Part I), All You Are, Lost
Tracks:
01. Big Shift
02. Life (Part 1)
03. Ditching Fear
04. Mercury Retrograde
05. OMG
06. All You Are
07. Freedom
08. Mild Smile
09. Hometown
10. Full180
11. Flickering Heart
12. Homeless
13. Falling Down
14. Life (Part 2)
15. Lost
Tracks:
01. Big Shift
02. Life (Part 1)
03. Ditching Fear
04. Mercury Retrograde
05. OMG
06. All You Are
07. Freedom
08. Mild Smile
09. Hometown
10. Full180
11. Flickering Heart
12. Homeless
13. Falling Down
14. Life (Part 2)
15. Lost
Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog
Rock Music Talk
March 21, 2016
Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk
March 21, 2016
Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk