Phrygian Gates are two musically-educated brothers who have collaborated on a musical project. One lives in Sweden, while the other lives in their native Spain. The band they’re both associated with is a Death/Doom outfit called ‘…of Dream and Drama’. I must confess that I’ve never heard of them.
‘Massacre Designs’, the first track of this album, suggests a strong rock emphasis interlaced with a touch of Green Carnation’s pathos and definitely a progressive element. The dreaminess makes way for an understated guitar solo. Technically it’s very good indeed and I could sense an appeal to the emotions in it. ‘Sense of Salvation’ seems to take us into the arena of Prog from the 60s and 70s, Woodstock and all that. There’s a pleasant and insistent rhythm, though I can’t say it’s exciting. There’s a section it which suggests they’ve listened to Opeth but overall it doesn’t have the necessary power to stand out. ‘Malign Tales’ is similar. There’s a good range of guitar work, but the singing is shaky and track lacks passion or spirit. Then comes the highlight of the album, an instrumental track called ‘Contrast’. The start is promising. It’s smooth and would be the ideal accompaniment to waves lapping against the shore. The drum patters along steadily. The track develops nicely with the same calm aura lingering. Listening to this track live would be a real treat. I don’t know about ‘Contrast’. This altogether excellent track should be called ‘Tranquillity’. ‘Separate Lives’ on the other hand features the now familiar weak vocals and is a limp-wristed affair, improved only by some magnificent guitar control. Did anyone check the sound production quality on this one? By ‘Death to Follow’, those vocals are just winding me up. The playing is ok, nothing we haven’t heard before but the vocals are tired and frankly awful. Nothing’s happening here. ‘The Moon…Erotica (Tribute)’ then succeeds where previous tracks have failed. It’s dreamy and atmospheric, but the plaintive vocals are better controlled and fit in with
the instrumentals. The progress continues with the track ‘Black Lines’, a nice piece of Classic Rock wit a pleasantly catchy chorus. There’s a good break, followed by an interesting use of sounds. The guitar works in well. The album finishes on a high with ‘After the Rain’. After a quiet opening, minimalist sounds proceed to reverberate across the room. In common with ‘Contrast’, it’s a calming, ambient track – they’re obviously good at this – and it’s a nice one to end with.
This album is good in parts, and there was one brilliant track for me in ‘Contrast’, but overall it’s too patchy. There’s evidence of imagination, the technique is there and can generate feeling, and I appreciated the classic moments too, but some of it is positively dull and bland. The brothers who make up Phrygian Gates need to analyse their strengths and weaknesses, and then they might produce the wide-ranging masterpiece which ‘Black Lines’ promises but does not deliver.
http://www.myspace.com/phrygiangates
http://www.phrygiangates.com
