Album Review: Arkness – Tales from the InBetween (Self Released)
French progressive metal collective Arkness released their debut album ‘Tales from the InBetween’, an album that can be described as musical storytelling and a collection of tales and legends, on February 22nd, 2022.
Dreamy and other-worldly progressive wonder, Arkness have crafted something quite unusual but also something quite captivating with Tales from the InBetween. Where laid-back melodies meld with more robust rocking heaviness and infusions of synth, keyboards and unexpected jolts keeps things unbalanced.
It’s immediately clear from Aquarius that Arkness have a lot of imagination and their goal here is to take you to places that only exist in your imagination. A relaxed tempo upended by an old-school rock guitar solo and sudden pacey burst of metal. Six Steps of Madness then makes things feel wistful at first but this is a track that transforms step by step to unveil something with really progressive metal groove and intensity. It’s here we get the first instance of death metal growls and roars. That it also happens to be really pretty too, just makes this all the more special. The recommended track to check out if you want a taste of Arkness.
Although there are plenty more that will scratch the itch for attractive and unusual music. Tracks like The Witch from Below, where eerie melody and whispered vocals transform into a playful, jazz-infused cabaret listen before getting even more crazy as it goes on.
Then you have the cinematic epic that is Paradoxe, the glorious technicality of the instruments that make up Hope in the Universe and the pairing of Five Years in the Sky, and Eternity and Brimstone. The former, featuring some of the album’s best melodies and the latter, featuring twisting and turning rhythm that constantly confuses.
Arkness have really produced something very special here and the cherry on top comes with the insanity of Circus Dazzling Lights and the grand, glorious and moving finale of The Discovery of Arkness.
Why aren’t we talking about this band more?
Arkness – Tales from the InBetween Full Track Listing:
1. Aquarius
2. Six Steps of Madness
3. The Witch from Below
4. Paradoxe
5. Hope in the Universe
6. Five Years in the Sky
7. Eternity and Brimstone
8. Circus Dazzling Lights
9. The Discovery of Arkness
Links
Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | YouTube
Arkness - Tales from the InBetween (Self Released)
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The Final Score - 10/10
10/10