Odin's Court - Deathanity has arrived!

[Valarien]

Congrats Rick, Matt and all of Odin's Court!

[OdinsCourt]

I don't want to make a habit of commenting on the reviews, but I do want to point out that the promo CDs did not include the CD booklets. So reviewers haven't had insight into the song titles, which the CD book explains. Carry on!


Movimenti Prog (8 out of 10), graciously translated by Marco Piva from Italian:

Odin’s Court is a Maryland quintet that with this “Deathanity” releases its second record five years after their debut with “Driven By Fate”. In their intense live career, they had a chance to open for diverse bands such as Symphony X, Sonata Arctica (whose vocalist Tony Kakko appears in this album as a guest), Helloween, Devin Townsend, Spock’s Beard and many others.

The band’s line-up is typical of a prog-rock quintet, with a vocalist (Matt Brookins, the founder of the band, here also on guitars), a guitarist (Rick Pierpont), a bass (Craig Jackson), keyboards (Savino Palumbo) and a drummer (John Abella). The influences in their music range from the most famous prog metal bands (Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation) to the protagonists of contemporary prog (Spock’s Beard, Chroma Key), from metal (Iron Maiden, Sonata Arctica) to the ‘70s prog (Yes, ELP), with some hints of bands as Queen or Pink Floyd and more than simple admiration towards such great composers of the past as Beethoven, Bach and Mozart.

From this stylistic melting pot, Odin’s Court derive a thematically and stylistically compact album, a record that is not a proper concept album but a patchwork of songs all based on the same topic – the damage man is making to Earth – and also linked by the fact of bearing – almost all – titles with no real meaning but clearly hinting to very specific aspects. Take as an example “Terracide”, “Volatilestial”, “Mammonific” and “Animaulic”.

In the middle of all this, an instrumental version of the Ode to Joy, IV Movement of Bethooven’s IX symphony, with a in-your-face prog intro and later lead at first by Jackson’s excellent performance on the bass, then by the guitars that sometimes allow themselves tiny, very well placed variations that bring the atmosphere closer to metal. Not good enough to justify the purchase of the album on its own, but sure a memorable track.

A pleasant record, maybe not an absolute masterwork but sure a nice prog-metal album well worth being bought and listened.

Original in Italian:

Gli Odin's Court sono un quintetto dal Maryland che con questo "Deathanity" pubblica il suo secondo lavoro discografico cinque anni dopo il debutto con "Driven by Fate". Nella loro intensa carriera live, hanno avuto modo di aprire i concerti di band diverse quali Symphony X, Sonata Arctica (il cui vocalist Tony Kakko interviene in un pezzo), Helloween, Devin Townsend, Spock's Beard e molti altri.

La line-up della band e' quella tipica di un quintetto prog-rock, con un vocalist (il fondatore della band Matt Brookins, qui impegnato anche alla chitarra), una chitarra (Rick Pierpont), un basso (Craig Jackson), le tastiere (Savino Palumbo) e un batterista (John Abella). Le loro influenze spaziano dalle band piu' note del progressive metal (Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation) agli esponenti di spicco del prog contemporaneo (Spock's Beard, Chroma Key), dal metal (Iron Maiden, Sonata Arctica) al prog classico (Yes, ELP), con tocchi di altre band come i Queen e i Pink Floyd e qualcosa piu' che semplice ammirazione per i grandi compositori del passato quali Beethoven, Bach e Mozart.

Da questo crogiolo di stili, gli Odin's Court ricavano un album tematicamente e stilisticamente compatto, un disco che non e' un concept ma e' un collage di pezzi tutti basati sullo stesso tema – il danno che l'uomo sta facendo alla Terra – e accomunati dal fatto di portare quasi tutti dei titoli che in realta' non significano nulla ma il cui senso e' ben comprensibile. Ne sono esempio "Terracide", "Volatilestial", "Mammonific" e "Animaulic".

In mezzo a tutto questo, una versione solo strumentale dell'Inno alla Gioia, quarto movimento della IX sinfonia di Beethoven, con un attacco smaccatamente prog e poi guidata dapprima da un eccellente Jackson al basso e poi dalle chitarre che si lasciano andare con cognizione di causa a delle lievissime variazioni che rendono il pezzo vicino al metal. Non un momento cosi' bello da valere da solo l'acquisto del disco ma comunque un brano da ricordare.

Un disco piacevole, forse non un capolavoro di livello assoluto ma un bel lavoro prog-metal degno di essere acquistato ed ascoltato.

[OdinsCourt]

Originally Posted by DemonOfTheWoods

By the way, the album is selling in the store!
I've been playing it overhead in the store so I think thats helping!!!

Awesome, so much thanks!!!

[eaeolian]

Congrats, guys!

[OdinsCourt]

Sea of Tranquility (4 out of 5):

Odin's Court must be one of the very few progressive acts out of southern Maryland, and the band's energy and creativity will surely be a culture shock to that sleepy part of the country. Their music is progressive rock, with one toe in the metal camp and another in hard rock. Deathanity is intelligent music with constantly developing themes and restless structures, ranging from ballad-soft sections through to power-chord-driven metal and back again, often in the same song. It's nicely layered and reveals occasional hints of the classical, jazz and classic rock genres, with - as the band's own promotional material indicates - an ambience and dynamics borrowed from Dark-Side-era Pink Floyd. Despite the band's short discography, there's a maturity and a self confidence here that will surprise you.

It is a strongly themed album, delivering a message about man's destruction of the earth, and there are spoken voice-overs that advance the theme a la Pain Of Salvation's more recent albums. This is usually a bad idea because after several replays those spoken segments become annoying. Fortunately, they're held well back in the mix on Deathanity so that problem does not arise.

The song titles are also designed to advance the theme - but like the album's title, they're quirky and the often made-up names provide more confusion than clarity. Titles like "Terracide" (obviously Latin for 'earth-murder'), Oceanica toxica (poisoned oceans), Vastificant and Volatilestial. "Manifest Destiny" has become a standard historical term describing the expansion of the United States across the North American continent, but in this context that song seems to refer to man's expansion across the globe, and the consequent environmental destruction. The band's message would be more effectively conveyed if their web site expanded on the music's themes.

"Oceanica toxica" is a pleasing, melodic piece, awash with keys, supported by a strong riff and punctuated by elegant piano. Tom Englund of Evergrey contributes vocals to track 5, "Mammonific". Englund's typically strained delivery has its appeal, but he seems to be stretching to fit the song. Another guest artist is Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica, who features on "Crownet". His delivery is strong, but overwhelmed by the instrumentation and the piece somehow lacks cohesion.

Track 10 (of 12) is "Ode To Joy", an excellent metallic rendition of Beethoven's 9th symphony (the Chorale), with the very famous ode to joy theme that has been adopted as the European Union's anthem. Imagine a less-ambitious Uli Jon Roth or Yngvie Malmsteen piece, though happily not as over-the-top as those guitarists' efforts. It's short at just under 4 minutes, and particularly enjoyable.

There's wonderful variety from section to section, the instrumentation and the songwriting are clearly the album's strengths, and the bass guitar is dominant on almost all sections of the record, and really comes to the fore on "Cosmosera". The vocals might have selective appeal. For example, "Animaulic" has strong, angry tones in the chorus which are very effective, whereas the multi-part choral sections are delivered in an odd timbre, with pitch control problems.

We understand that Odin's Court puts on an excellent stage show - which probably explains their opening for countless notable prog and metal acts - including Symphony X, Spock's Beard, King's X, Kamelot, Enchant, Circa, Sonata Arctica, Jon Oliva, Zero Hour, Devin Townsend, Enchant and Helloween.

On balance it's a rewarding listen and is recommended.

[OdinsCourt]

Ragazzi (no rating given), graciously translated from German by Tim Brookins:

In 2001 a band was established in Maryland, USA. The first album came onto the market in 2003: "Driven By Fate." Now, after five years, "Deathanity" follows it, the band also having released several CD's and a DVD in the last year. Odin's Court plays symphonic progressive rock with eclectic influences. Not only did they style all the prog-variety of the jazzy sort, but they even embedded traces of the arduously complex compositions of jazz, jazz-rock, and even death/power/prog metal in "Deathanity." Moreover the band takes their penchant for classical music seriously, in that they include Beethoven's "Ode To Joy" (track 10) and his "Joy, Lovely Light Divine" (track 9). It includes symphony with massive effect. Odin's Court prefers energetic, frenzied song structures, in which they strain much, and which have an agitated and disquieting sound. Especially in parts, which are characterized by metallic dint, it is a bit stressful, and even the subdued sections still retain this quavery, tense ambiance. Much of it is played aggressively, and the highly intricate instrumental roles are fanciful, but always just for a moment, before the excitement fades away into symphony or a guitar or a saxophone solo. I'm especially fond of the solos. Guitarist Rick Pierpont and the saxophonist (who's not listed on the insert) do some hard rocking that's creatively and powerfully energetic.

The imaginative songs are, technically speaking, played beautifully, but many fine details do not always seem balanced in terms of arrangement; and in the general excitement and bustle something is lost. The final piece, "Cosmosera"--bewilderingly frenzied with its mix of death metal, symphonic rock, and pleasant mainstream--is the low point of the disc, though at the end the song becomes pleasant bluesy-rock, as does the following track "Vastificant."

It seems Odin's Court has incorporated all styles. They can perform lively songs. But not every one of their compositions will blow your hair wild, and some commonplace concepts have found an entrance into their styles. The white metal dosage roils the spirit, but, on the other hand, there is in this album much momentum and freight, which is positive.

The constant phantasmagoria of style makes for an interesting mix, but sometimes it derails the band with its high-speed experimentation. Fortunately it redeems itself again. In the end, that somewhat-ghastly-and-inapproachable-looking "Deathanity" is decidedly successful.

Original in German:

Im Jahr 2001 hat sich die in Maryland, USA, ansässige Band gegründet. 2003 kam das erste Album auf den Markt: "Driven By Fate". Fünf Jahre später nun folgt "Deathanity", nachdem Odin's Court in den letzten Jahren einige CDs und eine DVD veröffentlicht haben.

Odin's Court spielen symphonischen Progressive Rock mit eklektischer Einflussbreite, nicht nur alle Progspielarten von poppiger bis zu schwer komplexer Komposition werden gespielt, Jazz, Jazzrock, ebenso Death-, Power- und Prog Metal haben ihre Spuren in "Deathanity" eingegraben, zudem nimmt die Band ihr Faible für klassische Musik insofern ernst, als sie im 10. Track "Ode to Joy" Beethovens "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" aus der 9. Sinfonie mit mäßigem Eindruck covert. Odin's Court mögen aufgeregte, hektische Songstrukturen, in denen viel passiert und die eine nervöse und unruhige Stimmung haben. Gerade in den Parts, die von metallischem Einschlag geprägt sind, wird es geradezu stressig, selbst die beruhigenden Passagen behalten noch diese bebende, gespannte Atmosphäre. Vieles ist aggressiv gespielt, instrumentale Parts sind hier und dort extrem komplex ausgefallen, immer nur für einige Sekunden, sodann ebbt die Aufregung ins Symphonische ab oder präsentiert ein Gitarren- oder Saxophonsolo. Besonders die Soli haben es mir angetan. Gitarrist Rick Pierpont und der auf dem Presseblatt nicht gelistete Saxophonist spielen phantasie- und druckvoll, dynamisch und hart rockend.

Die ideenreichen Songs sind handwerklich schön gespielt, haben viele kleine feine Details, die nicht immer ausgewogen arrangiert scheinen und in der allgemeinen Aufregung und Hektik etwas untergehen. Das vorletzte Stück, "Cosmosera", verwirrend hektisch, mit seinem Mix aus Death Metal, Symphonic Rock und leichtgängigem Pop ist der Tiefpunkt der Platte, zum Ende jedoch wird der Song, wie auch das folgende "Vastificant", angenehm jazzrockig.

Odin's Court haben alle Stile drauf, scheint es. Sie können Songs lebendig machen. Nicht jede ihrer Kompositionen ist mitreißend, einige allzu oft gehörte Ideen haben Eingang in ihren Stil gefunden. Der metallische Anteil weiß schon mal zu nerven, andererseits gibt es hier viel Dynamik und Druck, was den Songs gut steht.

Die Mixtur aus stets wechselnden Stilmethoden ist interessant, manchmal aber entgleist die Band bei ihren Hochgeschwindigkeitsexperimenten. Zum Glück kriegen sie sich wieder ein. Überwiegend ist das manchmal etwas kalt und unnahbar wirkende "Deathanity" wohl und überzeugend gelungen.

[OdinsCourt]

The Streets Webzine (8 out of 10), translated from Norwegian:

Odin's Court is a new acquaintance to me, and it is not easy to put this band in any particular genre. The starting point is prog metal / rock, but here is not many limits, which means that it is extremely exciting and varied music with a long life that is served here. The band comes from Maryland in Usa, and began work on the 'Deathanity' as early as 2004. The album is a concept album, and it all has to do with what implications for human actions can our planet. A different view of this issue appears in the varied use of instruments, texts, sound effects and vocals. ?Selveste? Tom S Englund from Evergrey and Tony Kakko from Sonata Artic is ?gjestevokalister?. The music is by the Band's own statements inspired by everything from Pink Floyd, Rush, Metallica and Yes, to newer bands like Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater and Tool. The band is made up into extremely talented musicians, and they will perform a delightful mix of the different styles that can be easily ?annbefales? to everyone with heart prog, at times, the entire simply genius!

Original in Norwegian:

Odin's Court er ett nytt bekjentskap for meg, og det er ikke lett å plassere dette bandet i noen spesiell sjanger. Utgangspunktet er prog metall/rock, men her finnes ikke mange grenser, noe som gjør at det er særdeles spennende og variert musikk med lang levetid som serveres her. Bandet kommer fra Maryland i Usa, og begynte arbeidet med 'Deathanity' allerede i 2004. Albumet er ett konsept album, og det hele dreier seg om hvilke innvirkninger menneskets handlinger får for planeten vår. Forskjellige syn på dette kommer frem i variert bruk av instrumenter, tekster, lyd effekter og vokal. Selveste Tom S Englund fra Evergrey og Tony Kakko fra Sonata Artica er gjestevokalister. Musikken er etter bandets eget utsagn inspirert av alt ifra Pink Floyd, Rush, Metallica og Yes, til nyere band som Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater og Tool. Bandet består ellers i uhyre dyktige musikere, og de fremfører en herlig blanding av de forskjellige stilartene som lett kan annbefales til alle med hjerte for prog, til tider er det hele rett og slett genialt!

[usaprogmusic]

Radio Interview with Odin's Court (entire band)

Saturday, August 2nd
2 - 3:15 p.m. EST
The Burn Radio
with DJ ProgPowerGRRL

Station URL:
http://theBURN.ProgCafe.com:8000/theburn.mp3.m3u

Also, join us in the chat room. DJ will be taking questions from listeners:
irc:// irc.chatech.net/theburnradio

[Kaosaur]

I'm diggin' it.

(That means go buy it!)