Theia
Collides - Last Song (song review) |self-released, single, 2012| 4/5
Theia
Collides is an American progressive rock band from Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. As their bio says, their goal is to "create a
lasting impact on the listener with every song, using conviction,
high energy and improvisation". The track, "Last Song"
shows this a true statement.
To
begin with, Theia is the name of a hypothetical body the size
of Mars, said to have hit the Earth approximately 4.5 billion years
ago (about 30–50 million years after the Solar System began to
form). The debris left over created the Moon. Science Fiction and
Fantasy references are well known to progressive rock music. However,
the best known characteristic is the tempo and time signature changes
that feature frequently throughout compositions. This free-form
method can be heard in "Last Song" although it's not an
experimental track by any means. More so, it brings a classic rock
vibe and melodies as well. The composition is multi-layered and the
arrangement is rich in variety,
but there's still space to breathe fresh air.
It
should be noted that the rhythmic section that builds the core song
structure cooperates very well. The leading bass line, performed by
very skilled musician, Ben Chiarini sounds dense yet it remains mild
and organic. This pulsing groove is accented in every part of the
song. Drums by Eric Wiegand are balanced and weighed well ensuring
they aren’t ahead of the other instruments in the mix.
Their soft tone also adds a pacifying atmosphere to the track.
During
the verses, Scott V’s guitar sounds delicate while accompanying the
bass, drums and vocals. However, the riffs intensity grows within the
chorus. You'll hear classic sounding solos as well.
The
vocals are the only weak point in this song. They lack conviction.
The vocalist and keyboardist, George Stevens sounds under confident
with singing technique, especially
when shifting between
octaves. He does well singing in a tenor range, keeping it
bright and interesting. Progressive rock singers quite regularly
embrace this style. Unfortunately, he gets a bit out of tune during
verses, which were written for a lower and stronger voice in a
baritone range. It means that George may need a further vocal
training to overcome possible vocal range difficulties.
In
conclusion, "Last Song" sounds soothing but carries a rock
spirit as well. If you're looking for a non-intrusive track that
leaves the room with your imagination, then you should definitely
listen to this. There's also a chance of seeing Theia Collides live,
as they appear to perform quite frequently.
"Last
Song" will be one of the 5 songs on a currently untitled EP, to
be released in 2013. Apparently, however, it may not be the 'last'
song on the tracklist.
(Katarzyna
'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Music Magazine, February 8th, 2013)
This
review on Fabryka Music Magazine
http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=467
http://theiacollides.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheiaCollides/info
http://www.soundcloud.com/TheiaCollides
http://www.reverbnation.com/TheiaCollides
http://www.twitter.com/TheiaCollides
http://www.myspace.com/theiacollides
Buy:
http://theiacollides.bandcamp.com/
Reviewed by Fabryka Music Magazine