Let the progressive metal begin. “Athens” is about … Athens and the dead ends of modern Greece, where Playgrounded come from. This is not parochial however. Anyone can associate with this album. “Athens”, which starts with the title track, hit me between the eyes. The trick was to get me to stay there. I was completely in Playgrounded’s world from the off. Dreamy progressiveness shares time and space with melancholic ambiance and metal moods. “Athens” takes you everywhere. Electronic passages are more than just added-on touches, indeed they are integral to the sparkly but dark atmosphere. “Athens” reaches emotional heights without being cheesy or sugary. The vocals are soft and just right for the mood. They would not be out of place on a Cynthesis album. Modern Anathema and the kingpins of this kind of prog, Dream Theater, inescapably come to mind. The varied structures recall Tool. Stylistically, they may sound like others but this is their world. This is like a luxury cream cake with added cream.
Yes, I stayed with “Athens”. After the impeccable and multi-coloured opening title track, we enter a mellower world with underlying melancholy. Emphasising the softer prog ambiance, the vocal notes are extended to extract the emotional milk but if it stayed like that, it would be boring. So we are momentarily shocked with rapid-fire prog utterances – maybe reflecting the “Seesaw Snap” of the track I am describing – before it develops into majestic prog metal. In spite of the softness, it’s emotionally on the edge and a little eccentric but in a completely controlled way. The scene is now set. It’s a calm and evocative scene. I like this vocalist. He tells his sad tale well.
“Western Sunday” is a prog version of Anubis Gate’s “Golden Days”. The atmosphere builds up, indeed creeps up slowly and there is power and drama, before we return to reflection. “Western Sunday” is a finely balanced track. There’s an air of Haken in the structure but without the blatant eccentricity or superficial complication. I prefer this to Haken. Another nice song then builds up to a powerful and edgy passage. Hypnotic instrumentals follow. The sadness overwhelms us. One of many skills that Playgrounded possess is the ability to captivate us with subtly changing winds. There are no bombastic climaxes. Passages blend into passages. It’s like a gradual injection of emotion. On the next delight, “Morning Smoke”, big passages combine with piano delicacy which conveys the impression of raindrops falling. It’s easy to share this experience. We get the picture. It doesn’t have to be rammed down our throat and isn’t. In typical style, “Morning Smoke” skilfully melts into “For a Moment”. There is a massive passage – remember though that Playgrounded don’t need to shout. Indeed, sublime piano and sophisticated drumming provide the mellow backdrop for yet more measured vocal outpourings. There’s no assault. As usual there’s a natural zen, with the soft vocals matching the exquisite instrumentals, beefed up momentarily by darker metal clouds but always with a melancholic touch and always in perfect harmony.
At 33 minutes in length, this is a short album but at least no time is wasted and there is no unnecessary padding. “Athens” is everything that is good about prog metal. It is a complete aural treat. There are no silly histrionics. Instead, it enters our mind with its range of perfectly blended sounds and atmospheres. Sublime.
(9/10 Andrew Doherty)
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