Progressive Rock Review: Unified Past-Shifting The Equilibrium

Release Date: 11^th Sept 2015

Label: Melodic Revolution Records

Website

Formed back in 1999, Unified Past has its roots much further back in the 1980’s, when Stephen Speelman and Victor Tassone first started to work together, both in various band projects, then as the band, Labyrinth, which released 3 full length albums in the 90’s.

There have been 6 studio albums released by the band prior to Shifting The Equilibrium, out just a couple of months ago. The band on this latest recording comprised Stephen (guitar, keyboards), Victor (drums), Dave Mitchelson (bass) and Phil Naro (vocals) and between them they have an excellent pedigree with vocalist Phil having also been a member of Druckfarben and Corvus Stone. The latter band has also been graced by drums provided by Victor, as has Andy John Bradford’s Oceans 5.

Shifting The Equilibrium contains 6 tracks with a playing time slightly in excess of 56 minutes (56.21). Longest and shortest tracks on offer are “Today Is The Day” and “Peace Remains In The World” with playing times of 11:51 and 7:45 minutes respectively.

Opening the proceedings on Shifting The Equilibrium is “Erasure Principle” which starts by grabbing the attention within seconds with the strong guitar riffs, sympathetic keyboards and then the powerful voice of Phil Naro. This opener seems to veer from classic rock to prog rock and onto prog metal then back. “Erasure Principle” is an excellent opening track to the new album.

“Smile (In The Face Of Adversity)” (9:23) is a slower, moodier, darker kettle of fish with crunching guitar and synths supplying an orchestral string effect at times. Stephen also applies some excellent guitar passages throughout the track. The best description of the music thus far would be tight, not too adventurous, competent prog.

The second longest track, by a handful of seconds, “Etched In Stone” (11:06) changes style again and moves into the symphonic prog arena, with superb keyboard passages, backed up by more amazing guitar riffs and topped by the powerful vocals.

The remainder of the tracks, “Peace Remains In This World” (7:45), Deviation From A Theme ( of Harmonic Origin) (8:18) and “Today Is The Day” (11:51) take the sweeping keyboards, chunky guitars and the strong vocals onwards, providing an album of great modern progressive music. The addition of the powerful lungs of Phil Naro since the last release which was largely instrumental, Spots (2013 but re-issued, and reviewed, earlier this year), has certainly helped the band move a rung or two up the prog ladder.

Shifting The Equilibrium is by far the best album that Unified Past has issued, and is well worth parting with some of your hard earned cash to add it to your collection. This release should grab the interest of people who like their progressive music with a little bit more of a bite to it.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Erasure Principle, Etched In Stone, Today Is The Day

Tracks:

1. Erasure Principle

2. Smile (In The Face Of Adversity)

3. Etched In Stone

4. Peace Remains In This World

5. Deviation From A Theme (Of Harmonic Origin)

6. Today Is The Day

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

December 6, 2015

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Progressive Rock Review: Unified Past-Shifting The Equilibrium

Release Date: 11^thSept 2015

Label: Melodic Revolution Records

Website

Formed back in 1999, Unified Past has its roots much further back in the 1980’s, when Stephen Speelman and Victor Tassone first started to work together, both in various band projects, then as the band, Labyrinth, which released 3 full length albums in the 90’s.

There have been 6 studio albums released by the band prior to Shifting The Equilibrium, out just a couple of months ago. The band on this latest recording comprised Stephen (guitar, keyboards), Victor (drums), Dave Mitchelson (bass) and Phil Naro (vocals) and between them they have an excellent pedigree with vocalist Phil having also been a member of Druckfarben and Corvus Stone. The latter band has also been graced by drums provided by Victor, as has Andy John Bradford’s Oceans 5.

Shifting The Equilibrium contains 6 tracks with a playing time slightly in excess of 56 minutes (56.21). Longest and shortest tracks on offer are “Today Is The Day” and “Peace Remains In The World” with playing times of 11:51 and 7:45 minutes respectively.

Opening the proceedings on Shifting The Equilibrium is “Erasure Principle” which starts by grabbing the attention within seconds with the strong guitar riffs, sympathetic keyboards and then the powerful voice of Phil Naro. This opener seems to veer from classic rock to prog rock and onto prog metal then back. “Erasure Principle” is an excellent opening track to the new album.

“Smile (In The Face Of Adversity)” (9:23) is a slower, moodier, darker kettle of fish with crunching guitar and synths supplying an orchestral string effect at times. Stephen also applies some excellent guitar passages throughout the track. The best description of the music thus far would be tight, not too adventurous, competent prog.

The second longest track, by a handful of seconds, “Etched In Stone” (11:06) changes style again and moves into the symphonic prog arena, with superb keyboard passages, backed up by more amazing guitar riffs and topped by the powerful vocals.

The remainder of the tracks, “Peace Remains In This World” (7:45), Deviation From A Theme ( of Harmonic Origin) (8:18) and “Today Is The Day” (11:51) take the sweeping keyboards, chunky guitars and the strong vocals onwards, providing an album of great modern progressive music. The addition of the powerful lungs of Phil Naro since the last release which was largely instrumental, Spots (2013 but re-issued, and reviewed, earlier this year), has certainly helped the band move a rung or two up the prog ladder.

Shifting The Equilibrium is by far the best album that Unified Past has issued, and is well worth parting with some of your hard earned cash to add it to your collection. This release should grab the interest of people who like their progressive music with a little bit more of a bite to it.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Erasure Principle, Etched In Stone, Today Is The Day

Tracks:

1. Erasure Principle

2. Smile (In The Face Of Adversity)

3. Etched In Stone

4. Peace Remains In This World

5. Deviation From A Theme (Of Harmonic Origin)

6. Today Is The Day

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

December 6, 2015

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Progressive Metal Review: Unified Past-Spots

Release Date: 11^th June 2013

Label:  Melodic Revolution Records

Website

The band, Unified Past has been around for a fair bit of time, since 1999 in fact, although they existed as an earlier band in 1990, called Labyrinth, including two members who are still part of the band today, although only one has had continuous service. Spots is the sixth release from the band following From The Splintered Present Surfaces (1999), Power of Existence (2008), Breaking Up The Atmosphere (2009), Tense (2010) and Observations (2011). Spots was originally released back in 2013 and has been revamped ahead of the expected 7^th album later this year.

The band members for the recording of the album, Spots, were Steve Speelman (bass, keyboards, guitars and vocals), Victor Tassone (drums, percussion, effects and backing vocals) and Dave Mickelson (bass). I hadn’t heard of either Steve or Dave before but had come across Victor as a guest on the self-titled debut album by Corvus Stone. Unified Past certainly show that they have been influenced by Rush and Dream Theater, and seem to have their feet planted firmly in the melodic rock area, albeit with a bit of leaning toward prog metal.

Spots is an 11 track album with a total playing time of around 59 minutes. The majority of the 11 tracks have single word names with the only exceptions being the last 2 tracks. The penultimate track is only a single letter, “G” and the final track is called just that, “The Final.” These 2 tracks are also the shortest, with “G” clocking in at 1:21 minutes and, the longest, with “The Final” running on for in excess of 8 minutes (8:27).  Although Steve and Victor are listed as vocalist and backing vocalist respectively, 6 of the 11 tracks on offer are instrumentals.

The opening track on Spots, “Blank” (5:17) has a short atmospheric build up, only around 18 seconds before the power trio of guitar, drums and bass announce their entry in a fairly forceful way. Seconds later, the vocals appear, and a minute after that the guitar throws in a great little riff which surfaces again later. This opening track is one which moves swiftly along, almost with the feeling that the music is being “kept in check” and not allowed to go careening off in any direction. The song benefits from this restraint being imposed.

“Deep” (5:42) is a slower paced track which still allows some excellent guitar work over the rock solid rhythm engine that is the bass and drums, which underpins the track. “Hot” (4:44) takes a step into the jazz zone with some excellent driving passages and superb guitar themes.

“Seeing” (3:49), “Tough” (8:18) and Age (6:26) move away from the jazz area back to the “classic power trio” playing of the earlier tracks. This then leads on to a series of tracks that are instrumentals, “Sun” (3:48), Big (6:35), “Wet” (5:07) and “G” (1:21).

“Sun” is a short punchy track that drives along, “Big” is a slower tempo and goes through a number of time changes, “Wet” continues the slightly slower style and “G” is a quirky, very short piece, which in reality makes me question the inclusion of the track, as it is just so removed from where the other tracks are at.

The final track, “The Final” (8:26) is another slow burner of a starter, with greater emphasis than before on the atmospherics, created by the majestic keyboards and the superb touch of Steve on the guitar. “The Final” is an excellent relaxed, laid-back track which finishes the album on a very positive note.

In general terms, this is a satisfying chunk of prog metal/power metal, but seems to lack the spark that ignites an album for the listener. This is a pleasant album comprising melodic prog by excellent musicians, but never “hits the heights.” I also tend to find that any album that has many instrumental tracks, or is fully instrumental, needs that special “feel.” Until the run of the 4 instrumental tracks toward the end of the album, I was enjoying the album, but they certainly tested my “staying power.”

Spots is an album that just doesn’t reach out, grab your ears and shout “this is great music!” It is an album that I think I will dip into from time to time and pick a few tracks to listen to. As always, my personal opinion may not be the same as anyone else, so give Spots a few listens and see what you make of it.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks:  Blank, Hot, The Final

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

June 30, 2015

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Progressive Metal Review: Unified Past-Spots

Release Date: 11^thJune 2013

Label:  Melodic Revolution Records

Website

The band, Unified Past has been around for a fair bit of time, since 1999 in fact, although they existed as an earlier band in 1990, called Labyrinth, including two members who are still part of the band today, although only one has had continuous service. Spots is the sixth release from the band following From The Splintered Present Surfaces (1999), Power of Existence (2008), Breaking Up The Atmosphere (2009), Tense (2010) and Observations (2011). Spots was originally released back in 2013 and has been revamped ahead of the expected 7^th album later this year.

The band members for the recording of the album, Spots, were Steve Speelman (bass, keyboards, guitars and vocals), Victor Tassone (drums, percussion, effects and backing vocals) and Dave Mickelson (bass). I hadn’t heard of either Steve or Dave before but had come across Victor as a guest on the self-titled debut album by Corvus Stone. Unified Past certainly show that they have been influenced by Rush and Dream Theater, and seem to have their feet planted firmly in the melodic rock area, albeit with a bit of leaning toward prog metal.

Spots is an 11 track album with a total playing time of around 59 minutes. The majority of the 11 tracks have single word names with the only exceptions being the last 2 tracks. The penultimate track is only a single letter, “G” and the final track is called just that, “The Final.” These 2 tracks are also the shortest, with “G” clocking in at 1:21 minutes and, the longest, with “The Final” running on for in excess of 8 minutes (8:27).  Although Steve and Victor are listed as vocalist and backing vocalist respectively, 6 of the 11 tracks on offer are instrumentals.

The opening track on Spots, “Blank” (5:17) has a short atmospheric build up, only around 18 seconds before the power trio of guitar, drums and bass announce their entry in a fairly forceful way. Seconds later, the vocals appear, and a minute after that the guitar throws in a great little riff which surfaces again later. This opening track is one which moves swiftly along, almost with the feeling that the music is being “kept in check” and not allowed to go careening off in any direction. The song benefits from this restraint being imposed.

“Deep” (5:42) is a slower paced track which still allows some excellent guitar work over the rock solid rhythm engine that is the bass and drums, which underpins the track. “Hot” (4:44) takes a step into the jazz zone with some excellent driving passages and superb guitar themes.

“Seeing” (3:49), “Tough” (8:18) and Age (6:26) move away from the jazz area back to the “classic power trio” playing of the earlier tracks. This then leads on to a series of tracks that are instrumentals, “Sun” (3:48), Big (6:35), “Wet” (5:07) and “G” (1:21).

“Sun” is a short punchy track that drives along, “Big” is a slower tempo and goes through a number of time changes, “Wet” continues the slightly slower style and “G” is a quirky, very short piece, which in reality makes me question the inclusion of the track, as it is just so removed from where the other tracks are at.

The final track, “The Final” (8:26) is another slow burner of a starter, with greater emphasis than before on the atmospherics, created by the majestic keyboards and the superb touch of Steve on the guitar. “The Final” is an excellent relaxed, laid-back track which finishes the album on a very positive note.

In general terms, this is a satisfying chunk of prog metal/power metal, but seems to lack the spark that ignites an album for the listener. This is a pleasant album comprising melodic prog by excellent musicians, but never “hits the heights.” I also tend to find that any album that has many instrumental tracks, or is fully instrumental, needs that special “feel.” Until the run of the 4 instrumental tracks toward the end of the album, I was enjoying the album, but they certainly tested my “staying power.”

Spots is an album that just doesn’t reach out, grab your ears and shout “this is great music!” It is an album that I think I will dip into from time to time and pick a few tracks to listen to. As always, my personal opinion may not be the same as anyone else, so give Spots a few listens and see what you make of it.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks:  Blank, Hot, The Final

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

June 30, 2015

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk