NARNIA - review added 27th July 2009
Album Review: Course Of A Generation (2009)
For fans of: Heavy Metal... and subtle Christian rock
Course Of A Generation is the 6th studio album by Swedish Christian metallers Narnia. It marks the debut of new vocalist Germán Pascual who replaces original singer Christian Liljegren. the line-up is completed by
Carl Johan Grimmark on guitar,
Andreas Passmark on bass
and Andreas Johansson on drums.
The music is heavy and accessible. They may tread the fine line between heavy and power metal, but Narnia are amazingly melodic too. The brutality is there, but the songs are rarely anything other than stunningly musical. The harmonies and hooks are stripped from much lighter styles of music like AOR and pomp. Think of Narnia as an amalgam of Iron Maiden, Metalium, Seventh Key and Grand Illusion and you'll have the right idea.
The most intriguing thing about the band is their Christian roots. You really wouldn't know unless they came on stage wearing cassocks. Much like the new Stryper record the lyrical content hints in the religious direction, but only if you choose to interpret it that way. To the unitiated Narnia could easily be deep, meaningful and slushily romantic atheists. It's a good thing as the end result is music anyone can listen to without feeling they are having an idealism pounded into them.
Opening track 'Sail Around The World' is a kick drum-led track with very groovy rhythms. The verses are nothing to write home about but the choral harmonies are fabulous. I haven't heard any Narnia work pre this album but Germán Pascual certainly sounds up to the job and fits their sound well. Again, as has been the case a number of times this year from various artists, there are some pronunciation errors, but not enough to spoil the record.
'When The Stars Are Falling' is achingly close to brilliance. There's a certain something missing from the chorus, although the harmonies are so good it hurts. The track is built on a simplistic bass hook with melodious instrumentation layered over the top. 'Curse Of A Generation' is a much faster, more pounding track with a wild guitar and machine gun drums. It's got an excellent speed-along chorus and pumping heavily interludes. Full marks to Carl Johan Grimmark; some of the soloing is bloody excellent. He has played on a number of Rob Rock's finest songs over the years and you can hear those influences on this record.
Listening to 'Kings Will Come' is like standing underneath a big thunderstorm with a small umbrella: it's a booming experience with noises that may well make you wet. The chorus is nothing special but the heaviness is all-consuming. 'Rain' is another musically banging track with an average verse and lovely harmonious chorus. It's a definite grower... so don't panic if you don't like it straight away.
'One Way To Freedom' is a plodder with an awesomely epic guitar sound. It's got an anthemic sound with hints of Egyptian/Middle Eastern and, although the track isn't the best on the album, that guitar is one of the best this year. The final track, 'Behind The Curtain', initially gives the impression it's going to be a soothing ballad. The opening piano piece is as atmospheric as Ozone and Nitrogen. From then on it becomes standard heavy metal fair with little to make it stand out.
Narnia are yet another 'Christian rock' band making great music that people won't hear because they'll be put off by the Christian moniker. It would be safe to say, just like Stryper, you can ignore the pigeonholing and buy the album on its merits. Whilst the release is perhaps a little inconsistent, it still has a plethora of very good moments that make it all worth while. The guitars and harmonies are exceptional and deserve all the praise they get.
Check out... The harmonies. We like :)
Track List:
1. Sail around the world
2. When the stars are falling
3. Curse of a generation
4. Scared
5. Kings will come
6. Rain
7. Armageddon
8. One way to freedom
9. Miles away
10. Behind the curtain
Label: Massacre Records
Artist's website(s): Narnia , MySpace
