EMPTY TREMOR signed with Frontiers late 2001 and
this gave the band a new found vigour to produce what has
become the best album of their career. Whilst working on the
music for the album the band trialled ex At Vance vocalist
Oliver Hartmann. Hartmann was well known to the bands keyboardist
Daniele Liverani as the pair had worked together on Liverani's
'Genius' rock opera. The trial worked out better than the
band had imagined and The Alien Inside is the fruits of this.
Stylistically Empty Tremor play modern progressive
metal with a fairly original slant. The sound is somewhere
between that of a more streamlined Dream Theater and the more
straightahead moments of Sun Caged. However what seperates
Empty Tremor from falling into another run of the mill prog
band is the sheer class of Oliver Hartmann's vocals. Coming
across as the prog incarnation of David Coverdale the guy
oozes class with his full smoldering delivery.
The title track, THE ALIEN
INSIDE, opens proceedings and the quality of this track
is immense. Clocking in at almost 10 minutes the track never
looses focus and comes to an end all too soon. Everything
about this track shows the potential Empty Tremor posses -
scolding guitar riffs backed up by a super tight rhythm section
and classy keyboards. Hartmann's vocals rule supreme here
and the overall effect is captivating.
Sadly such a strong opener only goes to highlight
the rest of the material not being in quite the same league.
I FOUND YOU is much more atmospheric
and due to its different approach to THE ALIEN INSIDE manages
to stand on its own. A NEW WORLD
has a strong pomp feel to it, but its let down by a substandard
chorus - a shame as it does have definite potential in the
verses and musicianship elsewhere.
WHO YOU REALLY ARE
has a nice detuned crunchyness to the guitars further aided
by some swirling Hammond Organ. This heads into a strong verse
where again Hartmann shines and the chorus is a good contrast
to the verse. The track does have somewhat of a Deep Purple
feel to the verses thanks to the Hammond. The solo section
sees a play around the intro before taking flight with some
good synchopation between drums, keys and guitar. This takes
on a strong swirly psychedelic vibe which grows for some more
soaring vocals. The quality throughout is back!
DON'T STOP ME begins
with a play on the theme to James Bond, this is coupled with
some Pink Floydian sound effects - very atmospheric. Around
the 1:35 mark guitar bass and drums kick in to create a truly
wonderous sound. Fans of Awake era Dream Theater will be digging
this. The track continues to build with a strong melodic guitar
solo before the tempo picks up, before coming back down for
the rather odd upbeat verse, which doesn't really blend well
with the intro it has to be said. The bridges and choruses
are however strong and fit much better making it generally
a very solid track.
STAY is simply a
very strong acoustic guitar led song. Hartmann's vocals again
are stunning over the more melodic framework. The simplicity
of the track is its true strength and makes it one of the
albums highlights. THE LOVE I'VE NEVER
HAD sees the tempo pick up drastically with an almost
thrash metal approach. The track does break down for a more
restraint verse which sees Hartmann layering his vocals with
classy aplomb. Clocking in at close to 9 minutes the track
(like the title track) never looses focus and comes across
as another highlight. It is darker and less immediately approachable
as the title track but it posseses a definite flair.
THE ALIEN OUTSIDE
closes the track initially on a slow doomy vibe before 2:30
in it picks up slightly for a haunting chorus (close to Evergrey),
not the strongest track on the album by any means, but with
no weak properties.
As you may have gathered, THE ALIEN INSIDE is
somewhat of a mixed bag. When its good, as like the title
track, it is stunning. However, sadly there are momenet of
mediocrity of just plain strangeness that stop me short from
giving this a glowing review. There does seem to be some clashes
as to what the band are trying to achieve in some tracks,
A New World being a case with its simply bad chorus - totally
at odds to the rest of the tune.
The band performances throughout are good, no
ones really wants to steal the show in the muscianship vein
which is refreshing as it does bring a more cohesive sound,
through Hartmann's stunning vocals on top and this band certainly
have all the goods to produce a monster. This isn't it, but
its will surely win over some new fans - one to watch.
