Anubis Gate - Andromeda Unchained [2007]

One of the (many) things about Anubis Gate that always continues to impress me is how each of their albums changes so much from the one before it, yet every last one of them ends up better than its predecessor (a trend I'm almost certain will come to an end this year). They don't play it safe. This is a band that has continually ascended the sky, broken the barriers, and taken bits and pieces from past momentous occasions and implemented them straight into future endeavors. It's downright dumbfounding what this group has done in less than a decade since their conception. Andromeda Unchained is just another chapter in a saga without missteps of any kind, an unlikely success considering the change of vocalist and style, and an essential listen for anyone who values melodic music.

With Askholm's departure from the band, the vocal duties here are taken by the magnificent Jacob Hansen, who you might remember as the vocalist/guitarist from cult thrash band Invocator, or know of as the best producer in the industry. Yes, I said it. No one else makes music sound as clear or lively, while adding his own little touches to the material in the process. He pretty much always associates himself with amazing acts, as well (see Mercenary or Eumeria). He also did both the Anubis Gate albums before this one, making the ultimate secret weapon, and they utilized him at just the right time. Luckily, his vocal performance is just as good as the mixing job. His high-register vocals have been overly described as "angelic," but there really isn't a more appropriate word to convey his joyously vibrant voice. His parts are often multi-layered, making even simple choruses sound godly.

There always seems to be a theme to Anubis Gate's sound, and though it's a bit more ambiguous in Andromeda Unchained, there's definitely a foreboding sense beneath all the crystal clear melodies. Apocalypse hangs in every note, a sense of profound urgency rarely seen in the prog/power genre. That would make sense considering that this a concept album concerning the very subject. No, it's not the conceptual masterpiece that is The Detached, but the lyrics are interesting (and enigmatic) enough to keep your mind reeling. Musically, this album is a big departure from Purification and A Perfect Forever. The songs are generally shorter (though not always) and faster than anything on those records, abandoning the slightly doom-tinged guitar riffs of its predecessors. This was probably a change made to go with Hansen's voice, and it helps all elements of the record in copious volumes. That doesn't mean, however, that Anubis Gate has regressed to simple-minded music; there's still an underlying prog mentality that shows through abundantly at just the right times.

This album thrives in catchy songcraft. The newfound energetic power of the band is shown right off the bat in "Snowbound," a piece that grazes you at first with a speedy rhythm, but eventually opens up into a progressive showcase of all encompassing passages. "Waking Hour" is a more of a straightshooter, with one of those classic, highly melodic Anubis Gate choruses. The title track slows things down and comes up with a heavy, attention-capturing verse, which leads to yet another inspiring refrain. In a world where albums are frontloaded to contain the bulk of quality in their first halves, Andromeda Unchained only gets better as it goes. Arguably the strongest segment of this masterpiece begins here. "Beyond Redemption" is unbelievably inspiring all the way through, optimism living through its upbeat choruses and wonderful instrumental passages. "Resurrection Time" follows suit with a bouncy verse, but explodes into a cascading chorus hinting at more than just a little sadness.

Next comes the cerebral "This White Storm Through My Mind," which is much more complex than it at first appears. This song contains the most enveloping instrumental parts on the record, filling up an entire five minutes without vocals and managing to keep you attention while doing it. It's a storm of climactic intensity. "The Final Overture" is deceptively lighter, but with a chorus that really evokes the inevitable end to come. "Take Me Home" is a poignant piece that doesn't fall into a typical power ballad's folly, using Henrik Fevre's guest vocals to portray emotional despair. Without skipping a beat, Anubis Gate head right back into power territory with the fun "Point of No Concern." Finally, ten minute conclusion "The End of Millennium Road" is appropriately epic and wraps the whole hour+ affair up nicely. The song really shows how much the band had grown since A Perfect Forever, crafting a much better lengthy track than that album had.

Among the tracks are a couple of rather pointless interludes, but much like the ones in Kamelot, they're brief enough not to maim the album of any of its worth. Andromeda Unchained is a truly complete album in every respect. I've been listening to it consistently for almost two years, and my opinion of it only grows over time. It has that staying power so few other albums have these days. How good it is almost makes it unfathomable that it isn't their best. I don't want to get into a whole underrated/overrated spiel here, but seriously; a dime a dozen prog bands do the same thing time after time to great accolades, while Anubis Gate perfects and transcends the genre to almost no avail or notice. I don't just give away my highest marks and recommendations, you know; this is the most consistent band I've ever heard and my favorite group playing music today. And you can quote me on that.

   Overall: 9.75/10 (Incredible - time has come to enter)