This Welsh band released their EP ‘My Only Answer’ in 2007, which found favour with yours truly. ‘A Moment of Clarity’ is their self recorded, self produced debut, and was released this summer.
Opening track ‘Thirty Eight and Gone’ (no not my waistline!) immediately reminds you of the Deftones, simply with the quite whiny vocal style, and with a little touch of abstract musicianship. In this I mean there are many surprises here and there. Like their EP release a while back, the songs remain interesting associated with the bands use of many different time signatures and styles, sometimes drifting towards Tool (the band) territory. After a couple of listens of the complete album, I don’t find the same attentive nature that I did the EP, there are a few quiet/slow moments from where you just lose it if you are not paying attention (I was guilty of that a few times). However, these Newport chaps do have lots of ideas and a repertoire of influences as long as your arm, thus making their alternative metal quite addictive overall. The band already acknowledge the two bands I have likened them too, but it is worth pointing out, as lead guitarist Kev Llewellin states in their press release, “everything does not have a hook or a riff”. Spiridion certainly are a touch unique in this sense. ‘Pedestal’ is a slow burner full of emotive expression and tortuous momentum; you certainly have to wait for those magical bits to happen but when they do it is definitely worth the wait.
‘A Moment of Clarity’ is certainly an album for the musicians and fans of unique, out of the box arrangements. Possessing individuality and a determination to get themselves heard, Spiridion are a stellar band switching between the heavy and harsh to the quiet and sedate with effortless ease.
http://www.spiridion.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/spiridion
