The Flow of Time, Vol. 2 Review
Buy The Flow of Time Vol. 2
Editor’s Note: A review copy of the album was provided to GameGrooves.
Prog metal musician Celestial Fury (aka Alasdair Cooper) has returned with the sequel to last year’s The Flow of Time Vol. 1. If you were a fan of Volume 1 (as I was), Volume 2 picks up right where things left off.
If you aren’t familiar with Alasdair or his previous album, expect riffs that alternate between prog metal and djent, ambient soundscapes, and solid production work by Lowlander of Burnt Toast Records. Every track has its own charms, but some stand out more than others. “Forest Temple”, for example, takes a playful approach to the original song, adding intricate rhythms that ebb and flow like a rushing river. “Nocturne Shadow” adds a creepy breakdown at the end of the track, and “Spirit Temple” provides epic, lumbering riffs that are contrasted by soaring leads and synths. While there aren’t any weak tracks on the album per se, I did find myself wishing for more variety on an album level.
To put it another way, Volume 2 is a great collection of tracks, but it falls short of being a completely satisfying album. Alasdair has proven an adept arranger, and a stellar performer, but when it comes to album structure, I would have liked a bit more dynamics. An acoustic song or two would have done wonders to break up the prog/djent metal sound that is the bulk of the album. In fairness, this is not a problem that is unique to Alasdair, and perhaps it’s a matter of personal preference.
Still, I would be remiss not to give credit where credit is due—Alasdair makes arranging seem effortless, and as someone who has dabbled in the dark arts of cover music, I know that’s no easy feat. If you’re still asking yourself, “should I listen to this album?”, I’ll steal a familiar phrase and say, “Hey! Listen!”
RATING: RECOMMENDED
(Fans of Zelda and Metal Should Enjoy)