Let’s go into the future; it could be the far distant future but it could be very soon. Epochate are a band with a concept, one that “looks at the eternal struggle generated by thought and power,” “a report of the attempts, defeats and victories of the human race through an age of wars, violence and arrogance.” As the title of the album sums up ‘The Chronicles Of A Dying Era.’ The question that one thinks of is what sort of music would sum up such narrative ideas the best? If you answered futuristic and industrialised you would be spot on as this is how Epochate handle their concept in a rather too short 43 minutes.
The group is a side project of Victor Love of Dope Stars Inc and Noras Blake from Spineflesh and Edenyzed. I have come across the former but never heard of the latter bands myself. What I will say from the off is that I have really enjoyed this album, partly as it stands out and offers something a bit different but also as it is simply very good. ‘Chronicles’ itself starts with a neo classical feel, sombre and sorrowful with things suddenly building up into a crescendo from the drums and strings. Vocals join in and one thing that by now has struck is that the production here is really, really good; loud and crystal clear. This is heavily orchestral and no doubt with a lot of programming involved (watch that, one day the machines are going to take over and start their own symphony of destruction). This opener flexes muscles and shows what is coming, the song isn’t the strongest or most memorable on the album but works as though it is easing you into the depths of the project as a whole; perhaps it is even the creation. We quickly pitch up at ‘1600 A.D.’ and more danceable beats come into the music with more of a darkwave feel to the symphonic aspects. The chorus hits and this although waking you up in the dark corners of the club you are slumbering in, still might not convince you to get onto the dance-floor.
The string elements are really excellent and when they are working with the bristling electronic stomp of ‘Substantia’ you realise that the album has completely fleshed out. Anyone asleep in that club will now be fully awake, any substances taken having them going into a blur of motion to this one. More sinuous, the flow of ‘The Flood’ is laden with a great keyboard flow and the tracks here all have a very distinct identity to them keeping this fresh and even invigorating through its running time. This is one of those albums that I wish was actually a bit longer as I feel the band have a lot more ideas but perhaps they want to explore these and expand upon their concept in the future. With the sinister flames of ‘Burning’ suggesting a city on fire and the more haywire keyboard cleave of ‘Introspection’ and its stormy chorus one cannot help wanting to dance even if the world is crumbling around them. If this is indeed the soundtrack to the end of days it’s as good a way as any to go out.
http://www.epochate.com
http://www.myspace.com/epochate
