Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Communic
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release: 2005
A good five years ago I first heard the demo Beyond Equator from the pretty obscure Norwegian band Ingermanland, and it blew me away with an original sound that leaned a little toward Nevermore but had a strong whiff of its own creative energy. And then there was silence, and I was genuinely sorry that a band with so much promise had vanished. Well, luckily they only ditched the name Ingermanland, and in 2003 they renamed themselves Communic. Communic are now made up of former Ingemarland members Oddleif Stensland (guitar, vocals) and Erik Mortensen (bass), bolstered by the former drummer of the legendary Scariot, Tor Atle Gabrielsen-Andersen.
With their debut Conspiracy in Mind, Communic carry on down the path they’d set out on, with a gorgeous combination of “Nevermore” power metal woven together with elements of thrash and heavy metal, all of it topped off with progressive touches. From the moment the disc starts spinning and the mighty opening track Conspiracy in Mind thunders out, all I can do is borrow the words of stoner Ted, played by Keannu Reeves in the cult movie Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey: “Whoa!”
Yep, Conspiracy in Mind is that good. The album serves up almost an hour (57:43) of high-octane metal and “only” seven tracks. You might first think this is yet another case of artificially stretching out the songs, but when the hour of Conspiracy in Mind flies by in a heartbeat, all doubts become pointless and all you can say is “I want more!” Even though the shortest song is almost seven minutes long, the constant tempo changes, rhythm shifts, punchy and dynamic rhythm section and Oddleif’s fantastic vocals make the running time go completely unnoticed.
From the very first moment, Conspiracy in Mind is a leech that latches on and slowly drinks your blood. There are few records I can say I’ll literally wear out from endless replays, and Conspiracy in Mind is one of them. Okay, enough of my rambling, let’s get down to the serious stuff. The opening storm of riffs and pounding drums already reveals a record that follows the “shoot first, ask questions later” principle, takes no prisoners and flat-out massacres the listener! Communic are definitely old hands, and it’s not hard to hear the roots of the individual members, but the sound of modern prog metal is more than welcome. Every element of the band, from the delicate guitar intros and technical drumming to the melodic vocals, puts them on the winners’ podium. Add some creative power ballads and you couldn’t ask for better. Conspiracy in Mind is a record that doesn’t know the meaning of the word “filler” – from the start of this hour-long assault, the siege never lets up.
Communic are only three members, but they sound like there are five of them. Oddleif shines on guitar and vocals alike. His sinister voice recalls Warrel Dane (Nevermore), yet at times he comes off even stronger than his obvious role model. Oddleif mostly stays in the mid-range, but every so often he shreds your eardrums with a “Halford-style” falsetto (just listen to the opening track). How heartfelt and emotional Stensland is in doing his job is hard to describe in words, you simply have to hear it! Oddleif is able to inject a huge amount of melody and warmth into a record you could call “cold” and dark. If you’re looking for vocals similar to Dane’s, with flashes of Halford and Matt Barlow’s delivery, Stensland is the right choice. Without a doubt one of the best vocalists in metal today! The riffs are incredible and mighty, you could say it’s power-metal-tinged Nevermore meet Megadeth. The leads are excellent, melodic and harmonic, though it’s true that a second guitar would make Communic’s music even fuller. Drummer Tor uses his kit to the fullest, with no shortage of dynamic transitions and cymbals, and when more double bass is called for, Tor doesn’t hold back there either. Without Tor’s technical and precise drumming, the debut certainly wouldn’t be what it is. Bassist Erik forms a great rhythm section with Tor and locks in perfectly with Stensland’s guitar lines. The emphasis is on melodic power, with progressive elements and thrash undertones popping up every now and then. And of course we have to mention keyboardist Peter Jensen, whose beautiful lines in the slower passages add a touch of magic to the otherwise raw attacks.
Finally, let me mention the first-rate production by Danish “wunderkind” Jacob Hansen. A solid, crunchy sound and vocal clarity dominate the whole record, and the drums in particular stand out, extremely clean and pushed up front. Hansen did a brilliant job of bringing out every instrument, especially in keeping the fantastic vocals so clear that they never get lost in the raw power of the instruments.
If you’re one of those who hate being boxed in by labels, Communic are the right choice for you. The music on Conspiracy in Mind runs from raging rapids to calm waters. Communic blur the boundaries between genres and mix a variety of elements into their own cohesive blend that’s hard to pin down. But saying that Conspiracy in Mind is a great record is easy. Norwegians have so far been famous mainly for black metal. But in the last few years big moves have been happening in progressive metal too – Pagan’s Mind, Circus Maximus and one of the best new acts, Communic. Craving depth, complexity and grandeur, and tired of worn-out metal genres? Communic’s music practically oozes power and aggression, yet they know exactly when to bring the pulse down with calm, melancholic passages. One of the best albums of 2005!
Lineup
Oddleif Stensland – guitar/vocals
Tor Atle Gabrielsen-Andersen – drums
Erik Mortensen – bass
Peter Jensen – keyboards
Production
Jacob Hansen
Tracklist
1. Conspiracy in Mind 07:38
2. History Reversed 06:49
3. They Feed on Our Fear 09:54
4. Communication Sublime 07:28
5. The Distance 08:08
6. Ocean Bed 06:45
7. Silence Surrounds 11:00
8. Another Distance (piano version) (5:00)*
9. Conspiracy In Mind (video edit version) (5:02)*
*Limited Edition bonus tracks
