Project Elimi 2011

"Part of making progressive music is experimenting, and I think that Tangent Plane deserve some credit for their experimenations with some strange and interesting things every now and then, but I must admit that I think that things do not alway work in favor of Tangent Plane on their sophomore release.

The vocalist has a unique voice, and normally that is a plus in my book, but here it sounds like he is trying too hard at times to sound different, which ends up becoming slightly annoying to listen to. They keyboards also become annoying, I think. It's true that keyboards are an obligatory instrument in much progressive metal nowadays, and that's fine by me. I just don't get the choice of effects from the keyboard soundbanks on this release, most of which sound very cheesy. I am sure they are supposed to serve in the name of epicness, but, honestly, I think they just end up making the music sound silly. I also find the production to be sub par with the guitar sound being too fuzzy and unclear, and it is irritating that the hi-hat is barely audible and that the cymbals are very low in the mix.

I actually think that the production is the main reason why my experience of this album is not a positive one. Had the production been better, the music migh have come across more balanced and less sub par. Because there are a lot of good things on the album, and I really think it is a big shame that the music itself has to suffer that much because of the bad production. The twenty minutes plus title track would have been incredibly good had the production been better, but, it its present state, it is just twenty minutes of annoyance.

I really think it is a big shame about the production, and I really hope that Tangent Plane are more lucky when comes to the production next time.

(review originally posted on metalmusicarchives.com)"