Prog isn’t normally something I can be found listening to. “Proggy” bits injected into music I’m more used to. Sure, I can deal with that. Add in technical and electronic elements and it’s definitely something I wouldn’t choose to listen to. But I’m all for being kicked out of my comfort zone so I decided to check out Khaidian’s new album, Penumbra.
It’s definitely not something I would pluck out of my inbox because it lists a set of styles I enjoy. However, not only do I enjoy something different to what I normally like but I love it when a band decide to do something completely different to their genre counterparts. And that’s what Khaidian have done here. Blending technical playing with prog elements and electronic sounds like an album trying to do too much. But Khaidian have managed to blend it all together here, making it sound consistent and a tight effort.
For a start, it’s not the hifalutin stereotype you associate with prog. Instead, the prog elements come from the technical playing and electronic sounds, pushing the songs ever forward and melodies may be revisited in later parts of songs, they’re twisted to become new beasts.
Perhaps the most accessible part of the album is the vocals, from Andy Hutton. Forgoing big, gruff growls on top of the crunching guitars, he takes a more melodic route and drawls in a similar fashion to Josh Homme at moments. That, combined with the melodic guitar parts, whilst they’re good and heavy, keeps the album from becoming too saturated into something more like Gojira.
Hell, even the tracks aren’t opuses in their own rights. The eight of them average around the four and a half minute mark and are more in the habit of getting in and getting out with little fanfare. However, whilst it may sound like it’s a relatively tame album, there’s still plenty of riffs for you to enjoy and frenetic drumming to bang your head to. Even with “Sense of the Spherical” appearing twice, at both the halfway point and a remix to close the album, both feel fresh and the remix doesn’t feel like it’s been shoehorned in for the side of it.
Khaidian are a perfect example of how to twist metal into something new and modern to keep you engaged. The electronic elements aren’t heavy-handed, treated with attention and it’s an album to be savoured from start to finish. There isn’t a standout track simply because it’s an album you have to listen to in its entirety.
Penumbra is out now
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