Customer Reviews

Conspiracy in Mind

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After going through Conspiracy in Mind a few times, I was stunned as to how much similar the vocalist sounds like the singer on Scariot's amazing work Strange to Numbers. I was rather late on giving Communic's debut a listen and, based on numerous reviews I'd read, I always believed he sounded like Nevermore's Warrel Dane. Well, the comparison is by no means off. However, I had no idea that the singer was Oddleif Stensland, the same guy who was in Scariot a couple of years ago. Communic is mostly Stensland's project, as he plays all guitars, sings, and is responsible for much of the songwriting as well.

The album spans roughly an hour of playing time and contains seven tracks, all of which are rather lengthy. Much like some other Scandinavian power metal bands, the production on Conspiracy in Mind could immediately be pinpointed as a classic Jacob Hansen work. The somewhat compressed and unnecessarily polished guitar tone does detract from the listening experience. The album is simply too clean and sterile given its dark lyrical and musical content. Some of the acoustic passages, such as the one on the almost 10-minute "They Feed on Our Fear", lack dynamics we've come to hear on any Kernon or Sneap produced Nevermore album. While Stensland is more of an upper register singer than Warrel Dane, some of his phrasing and delivery are definitely taken out of the Dane textbook. Though quite heavy in parts, mainly due to the rampaging bass and pounding drums (by another former Scariot member Tor Atle Andersen), I'd classify at least five out of the seven tracks as midtempo. Nothing too flashy or impossibly fast on this disc, as the writing dictates fluctuating rhythmic intensity and various melodic segments. "Communication Sublime" is one of the exceptions, being quite intricate in its arrangement and guitar playing, especially in the beginning. The bass underlying Stensland's guitar keeps the track intact while rendering it a groovy vibe. The emotional power ballad "Distance" offers a long acoustic intro and then a sudden foray into a breathing lead solo before vocals and multi-track rhythms surround the piece. Great screams echo in the distance, as cymbals sparkle and emphasize atmosphere. Perhaps the song that displays Stensland's most emotive and powerful delivery is "Ocean Bed". There is something for every member here. A great bass solo, and some of the finest a capella singing from Stensland in his career.

Conspiracy in Mind is a strong debut, but something inside me says, the best from Communic is yet to come.

Ever listen to a CD (particular using headphones) that left you kind of stunned in those first moments of silence after the last song ends? Communic's Conspiracy in Mind is just such a CD.

If I were to attempt to classify the music I would probably have to land on Melodic US Power Metal. European Power metal utilizes the double bass, higher pitched singing, and fantasy/medieval based lyrics. US Power Metal is more focused on aggressive guitars, varies the drumming between double bass and slower tempo rhythms, and tends to have more aggressive vocals. The Melodic qualifier means that Communic infuses the aggressiveness with a progressive-edged harmony interspersed throughout the songs. The resultant blend is breath-taking at times. Every time you listen to the album, the more you notice the complexity, the more you appreciate it, and the longer that pause after the last song ends.

Each song is a blend of harmony, power, complex structures, and time changes without going too far into the prog realm. The vocals cover a wide range but always match the song and are never offensive. In other words, it is a perfect hybrid that should appeal to fans of both Power and Prog metal (but not Power-Prog since those bands are usually much more frantically paced). These guys are a talent that doesn't come along too often.

It is difficult to give a song by song review since they would begin to sound alike (though the songs themselves do not sound alike). A variety of power, melody, and intelligent lyrics with superb musicianship. I rated each song except Distance as a 5 star on my iPod (for me a 4 star is a great song and 5 star is reserved for songs that take great to the next level - only Blind Guardian, Manticora, Wuthering Heights, After Forever, Iced Earth (less Glorious Burden), and Into Eternity have more than a handful and I have a LOT of bands in my collection). The Distance is a slower paced song that never really varies from the base sound. It is almost out of place in its singularity of sound.

If you like Nevermore's This Godless Endeavor or Mercenary's 11 Dreams - definitely check this one out.

After listening to this album I couldnt wait for the release of Visual Waves of Decay. Both albums are equally great and powerful. If you like one you're bound to like the other. And if you like Nevermore, Soilwork, Beyond Fear, Dream Theater, and Evergrey then you'll really dig these guys. No disappointments here. I doubt there will be for you either. Give them a shot. Its definitly worth your time and money.

To those who just cant get enough of their Nevermore, check out Communic, these guys really shred, they've released an album that even Jeff Loomis would be proud of. Communic sound almost identical to Nevermore, maybe a bit more progressive with longer songs. and they're singer uses his more halford like falsetto more often then Nevermore's Warrel Dane. If you like Nevermore, or aggressive power metal/progressive metal check this out.

Hailing from Norway, Communic's brand of progressive heavy metal with hints of power metal has raised many eyebrows within the metal world. While drawing some comparisons to Nevermore, the trio of Oddleif Stensland, Erik Mortenson, and Tor Atle Anderson have created music so brilliant that it is almost scary how good these Norwegians really are. 2005's Conspiracy in Mind was a stunning debut after the band joined together in 2003.

The album starts with the title track, Conspiracy in Mind. While clocking in at 7:38, any doubts about this band were quickly suppressed and while comparisons to Nevermore were certainly warranted, it is safe to say that Communic are creative in their own way and Stensland vocals truly do shine. The closer, Silence Surrounds, is a complex song of many emotions and an amazing vocal range from Stensland. The song, The Distance, is a mellow song with soft leads, while Ocean Bed defines a true progressive metal style.

Since the release of Conspiracy in Mind, Communic have also released Waves of Visual Decay in 2006 as a follow-up, which is also very good. Casual lookers may recognize that the album only has seven tracks. It should be known that all are nearly seven minutes in length, with the album clocking in at just under an hour! There is plenty of music here for a long attention span and those who are open minded about the genre of heavy metal. Nuclear Blast did a superb job in signing Communic. Word has it that another studio album is just over the horizon!

Communic are an incredibly talented blend of power, melody and complexity which any fan of intelligent, progressive metal shouldn't be without. Best described as a cross between Nevermore (especially in vocal style) and bands such as Sun Caged, early Dream Theater, and Soilwork, Communic are remarkably skilled musicians.

"Conspiracy In Mind" offers a lot of variety and complexity, as well, but firmly within the metal canon, and definately worth checking out. Lyrically centered on social commentary and dark themes, it is intellectually interesting as well. I do think that this has been done before (and sometimes with better results) by many other bands, and that some songs tend to be lengthy just for length's sake without enough variety in riffs, themes or musical motion to warrant them (yet another verse, huh....) but overall a very solid and interesting offering from these Norwegian musicians.

Okay, so I'm gonna start this review of with this: if you are a Dream Theater fan-boy then move along, nothing for you here. You won't find faux metal or glorious keyboard passages bathed with a wash of guitar and a tinge of bass. You get a HEAVY prog-metal unit that very sparingly uses any keyboard/synth. at all and instead go full bore into bringing on the metal wrapped in a more prog package. No, this won't tear your head off -if you want to voluntarily decapitate yourself then listen to Suffocation for the more technical and BRUTAL side of metal. These guys are heavy enough without crossing that line.

They work as a cohesive unit and play together -which is great. My complaint is that this album is more mid-tempo to a degree compared to their later work of "Payment of Existence". Regardless, you will find plenty of unconventional song arrangements, heavy passages, good soloing, great bass work and fantastic drumming.

If you're fan of the prog-ier side of metal, this should suit you just fine -also, my above comments about Dream Theater are not to say they aren't a great band, they just aren't metal enough for MY tastes -I like the heavier stuff. If that offends you, tough -it's my opinion. That is why Communic suits me -it should you if you're like me in that way.

Review by Tyler Wagnon:

Hailing from Norway, Communic play a somewhat progressive brand of power metal with a bit of a thrash feel to some of the quicker riffs. Conspiracy in Mind is only "somewhat" progressive because some of the grooves borrow from the prog playbook, but they aren't all that experimental or technical (i.e. there are no grandiose solos and the drumming is only average at best).

Communic is only a three piece, but they manage to sound a lot fuller, more like a five piece which is a tribute to the band. They opt for clean sung vocals which are better than a lot of the cheesy power metal stuff going on these days, but there is still too much vibrato for my taste.

Power metal is usually reserved for the ultra-nerdy metal fan, but luckily, Communic doesn't delve into songs about dragons or Vikings or anything like that, so give them a few points for that. Usually power metal is borderline unlistenable for me and I actually made it through this CD, so give them points for that too. Definitely an above average power metal outing.