DAYS BEFORE TOMORROW - review added 19th October 2009
Album Review: The Sky Is Falling (2009)
For fans of: Progressive Rock... and award winning bands
Days Before Tomorrow describe their sound as somewhere between the obvious progressive musings of Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater and Marillion...and the retro-licious subtly progressive meanderings of Kansas, Rush and Pink Floyd. "A nod to the past with a sound for tomorrow," they call it. Can't argue with that.
The band released a self-titled debut EP in 2006. Back then Days Before Tomorrow was Eric Klein (lead vocals) and Scott Kahn (guitar, vocals). Since then Derek Davodowich (guitar, vocals), Rob "Zeek" Maziekien Jr. (bass, vocals) and Jason Gianni (drums, vocals) have swelled the ranks to form the band we see today.
The Sky Is Falling was produced by Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin, The Who, Heart, Jefferson Starship, Europe, Kiss, Damn Yankees, and more) and mixed by Earl Cohen (Christina Aguilera, Usher, Will Smith, Tina Turner). It's an unusual mash-up of behind-the-scenes bodies but the result justifies the inclusion of such polar talents.
The Sky Is Falling has a stellar sound, helped in no small part by the quality of the performances. Gold medal goes to the vocals. Eric Klein undoubtedly has a fine tone, but it's the serene harmonies that win the day. There's not a lot of musicianship that blows you off your feet, but that's more to to with the well-balanced nature of it all than any more obvious deficiencies. Days Before Tomorrow have a subtle approach to blowing their own trumpets. That's not necessarily a bad thing.
Song-wise this is an overall-experience-album rather than a stream of monumental individual moments. It's big on atmosphere and mood-generation although, to be fair, there are still a number of stand out choruses, verses, riffs and melodies. Top one, if you want to rank them, is the chorus to 'Lighters'. It's absolutely vast, even if the rest of the song is a little too subdued to be truly brilliant. I love the heavy drum sections in 'Last Song'. It sounds not dissimilar to Metallica's 'One', and that's a good thing.
'Wasted Years II: Sleepwalking' has a great chorus, although it's bettered by the title track a couple of songs on. 'The Sky Is Falling' is a song that deserves chart action and a cheesy video set in a breeze-wafted meadow under a moody sky. 'Wasted Years III: The Silence Is Deafening' verges on absolute majesty, but for some reason doesn't pump out a massive chorus just when you think it should. The build up is superb, but it builds to nothing. Shame.
The Sky Is Falling is a beautiful album that's great for sinking back and relaxing to. It's a touch mellow and flowery for my liking, and perhaps doesn't have enough 'big' moments to appease my needy mind. I'd totally understand if you fell in love with it though.
Check out... The artwork, which manages to be brilliant and a bit cack all at the same time.
Track List:
1. Lighters
2. Wrong
3. Last Song
4. Can't Go Back
5. Wasted Years I: Confrontation
6. Wasted Years II: Sleepwalking
7. In the Air
8. The Sky Is Falling
9. Can't Do Anything
10. Survival
11. Your Kate
12. You're Not the One
13. Wasted Years III: The Silence Is Deafening
14. Lighters (Reprise)
Artist's website(s): Days Before Tomorrow , MySpace
