HESPERION “Живим… / Who Alive…”

Total Metal Records, 2017

Music: Progressive Heavy Metal
Website: www.facebook.com/hesperionband/
Duration: 42:22 minutes (7 tracks)
Country: Ukraine

The Ukrainian Metal sextet was set up in 2014 in Irpin, in the Kyiv region. This disc is their first release at all. And it is very successful. I like this album, also because the music in many places – eg. in the songs “Тысячи бессонных ночей” and “Танец над бездной” is similar with very unappreciated Polish ABRAXAS, which I adore. These similarities are in the vocals and playing of guitarists, and the way they build the songs.

Musically… The fragments mood and romantic are interwoven on the album, as well as Prog Rock (which often remind me ABRAXAS) and in addition sharp Heavy Metal. HESPERION has a large line-up, but every musician and vocalist (sometimes there are singing of two vocalists in one song) brings a lot to the whole, everyone is needed. First of all, the guitarists cause delight. They often showing off great parties and solos. It is feel that they are playing straight from the heart.

The dialogues of both guitars are very curious. The bassist also shows his skills on many occasions. The same is with the drummer. The vocalist feels its lyrics, singing in a way filled with emotions. Sometimes two singers sing simultaneously or alternately. And about the keys, it seems that they are still in the background, they are just a minor addition. But they are really important, in different places they use skilfully different types of sounds (eg. harpsichord, piano). Without this spice, the musical taste would be worse. Anyway, the keys also has some interesting solos.

The compositions are multidimensional. They contain a lot of themes, some are more progressive, and others are more heavy-metal. But this music flows and takes the listener. There is the confusion of different means of expression – lyricism, sublime, instrumental efficiency, metal gallop. The arrangements are not chaotic, everything fits together. It is a work full of drama and pulsating life.

The philosopher Heidegger once wrote that “nothingness is nothing”. I would say that in the case of this band “the music makes music”. I think HESPERION’s career is just beginning.

Tracklist:
1. Анжелика / Angelica
2. Тысячи бессонных ночей / Thousands Sleepless Nights
3. Танец над бездной / Dance Over Abyss
4. Ленор / Lenore
5. Призрак войны / Ghost of War
6. Живим / Who Alive
7. Страж Вітчизни / Guardian of Homeland

Line-up:
Oleg „Gera” Gerasko – bass, choirs
Vitaliy Petrenko – drums
Gulnara Asanova – keyboards
Oleksiy Kharitonov – vocal
Andriy „Andrik” Yaremenko – guitar
Denis Buslenko – guitar

Rate: 9.0/10