Unveil describe themselves as "Somewhere between Evanescence, Halestorm and Birthday Massacre". They comprise Alain on guitars and vocals, Mr. Lee on bass and vocals, Pom on drums, and, since 2011, folk-rock singer and front-person, Jow. Their debut EP, "Codex Noctem", was released in 2013 to critical acclaim, followed five years later by the full-length "The Deep Sleep", all independently created and distributed.
So, with Evanescence already well and truly scrubbed from my mind by Carmilla, let's have a look at Unveil and their "Oblik Sessions" on YouTube. This is the band in full flight as they prefer it to be: live, no overdubs; you can compare the result here to the BandCamp version of the same songs, and even buy them through BandCamp or at the low-low prices as determined by the band on their website.
There is a certain, je ne sais quoi, about this four-piece. Their standard rock'n'blues set ups (a Telecaster, a drop-tuned J-bass, five-piece drum kit, and some added keyboard for depth as part of the effects suite, three capable vocalists, and well-established look and feel) belies the metal tag. They are similar in musical presentation to but somewhat cleaner than Carmilla in their influence by the darker side of the afterlife: as their bio suggests; probably a little more accessible, more rock-oriented than metal but retaining a heavy edge, and definitely "seasoned", having been around the traps since 2004!
The band's YouTube channel goes on to offer more versions of what appear to be favourite songs from the repertoire, including Camera, Winter, and Empty, all of which show that whatever has been created in the studio is masterfully recreated in any setting. And the band doesn't appear to have a set stage profile either, with many configurations being shown on each of these videos.
Unfortunately the only music we have from Unveil is the three releases. I say unfortunately, because a band that has been performing since 2004 would be expected to have a litany of releases. But quantity doesn't equate to quality, as their 2013 debut "Codex Noctem" can attest. I am in awe from the Eastern-influenced opening track Hide, through Camera, Why featuring another vocal for the first time (Alain and Mr. Lee are credited as other-vocalists in the bio), Empty (with the Evanescence-styled intro), The Fall, to the closer Winter, with all the feel of its namesake season; something with which these Quebecois would be more than familiar.
The word "accomplished" in no way does justice to what this group has achieved on this record. A depth and colour is achieved with a limit of instruments and effects as opposed to other bands in the genre that use banks and banks of guitars, effects, and technicians to create a pallet that emulates the sounds of their compatriots. That Jow comes from a folk background is the biggest surprise and we look forward to exploring the rest of the back catalogue to see where the band goes from here.
But in the meantime "The Deep Sleep" is as big a misnomer as any in popular music. Sleep won't come to anyone putting this record on- I could even hear myself turning it up beyond 11 and entertaining the whole suburb as I go about my business, regardless of the time of day. Burn opens the account with more Evanescence than anything thus far with an industrial intro and outro, followed by straight-ahead rock in Deceiver and more of that drop-tuned bass in Dare To Live.
The title of Captain's Flesh immediately suggested to me an Ahabesque tribute, which was confirmed by the sounds of the sea under the intro. The pace slows for a heart-felt lament from the sole survivor of a ocean-bourne tragedy; conversely, Calling To The Night follows with as pop as these guys get but still with the steady beat that we've come to know and love.
A chunky riff with some tempo-play keeps you guessing through Listen To Yourself, complete with screaming solo, and Infinity brings out the Lesley/Hammond organ, more chunk, and double-kick work from Pom to suggest that someone in the band had been listening to Deep Purple during the lead-up to this record!
Leaving starts winding the album down but instead presents an opus as varied as any metal/prog outfit. Changes in pace, mood, and signature not only taps a vein already traced through Deceiver and Dare, but a subtle hint of the Jon Lord keys from Infinity maintains that classic metal feel. The stereo won't go up high enough! Addicted To Lies rounds the album out with this punter wanting more with an all-too-familiar hook the brings us full-circle to the "Oblik Sessions" that lured us here initially!
Lock-down has hit these guys' creativity hard but they swear in a recent website update that the juices are well and truly flowing and we won't have to wait too long for another album.
Good! Bring It! And soon!
Unfortunately the only music we have from Unveil is the three releases. I say unfortunately, because a band that has been performing since 2004 would be expected to have a litany of releases. But quantity doesn't equate to quality, as their 2013 debut "Codex Noctem" can attest. I am in awe from the Eastern-influenced opening track Hide, through Camera, Why featuring another vocal for the first time (Alain and Mr. Lee are credited as other-vocalists in the bio), Empty (with the Evanescence-styled intro), The Fall, to the closer Winter, with all the feel of its namesake season; something with which these Quebecois would be more than familiar.
The word "accomplished" in no way does justice to what this group has achieved on this record. A depth and colour is achieved with a limit of instruments and effects as opposed to other bands in the genre that use banks and banks of guitars, effects, and technicians to create a pallet that emulates the sounds of their compatriots. That Jow comes from a folk background is the biggest surprise and we look forward to exploring the rest of the back catalogue to see where the band goes from here.
When a band is between releases, or even during the
promotion of a new release, their tours include invitations to local radio stations,
and to bring a guitar with them to demonstrate how versatile they can be by
converting their full-production to a voice or two with acoustic accompaniment.
The term versatile doesn’t do justice
for Jow and Alain’s performances during three appearances and performances on
Sherbrooke community radio station CFLX
and Sherbrooke University radio station CFAK. Brings back memories of my
own of hosting both acoustic and full-band appearances and performances on
community radio in the 1990s!
But in the meantime "The Deep Sleep" is as big a misnomer as any in popular music. Sleep won't come to anyone putting this record on- I could even hear myself turning it up beyond 11 and entertaining the whole suburb as I go about my business, regardless of the time of day. Burn opens the account with more Evanescence than anything thus far with an industrial intro and outro, followed by straight-ahead rock in Deceiver and more of that drop-tuned bass in Dare To Live.
The title of Captain's Flesh immediately suggested to me an Ahabesque tribute, which was confirmed by the sounds of the sea under the intro. The pace slows for a heart-felt lament from the sole survivor of a ocean-bourne tragedy; conversely, Calling To The Night follows with as pop as these guys get but still with the steady beat that we've come to know and love.
A chunky riff with some tempo-play keeps you guessing through Listen To Yourself, complete with screaming solo, and Infinity brings out the Lesley/Hammond organ, more chunk, and double-kick work from Pom to suggest that someone in the band had been listening to Deep Purple during the lead-up to this record!
Leaving starts winding the album down but instead presents an opus as varied as any metal/prog outfit. Changes in pace, mood, and signature not only taps a vein already traced through Deceiver and Dare, but a subtle hint of the Jon Lord keys from Infinity maintains that classic metal feel. The stereo won't go up high enough! Addicted To Lies rounds the album out with this punter wanting more with an all-too-familiar hook the brings us full-circle to the "Oblik Sessions" that lured us here initially!
Lock-down has hit these guys' creativity hard but they swear in a recent website update that the juices are well and truly flowing and we won't have to wait too long for another album.
Good! Bring It! And soon!
PG (Jacky) Gleeson
3 July 2020
3 July 2020
