An EP from Verdani Is A Blend of Theatrical alternative and Progressive Rock
- BuzzSlayers
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
A new EP release from Verdani manages to blend classic, indie, and alternative rock with this sort of progressive, vast undertone that creates quite a lush atmosphere, brought on by layers of guitars, organs, keys, and more.
To me, this feels like a bit of an experimental record.
It brings on textures that your average alternative rock record wouldn't really have. This makes the whole thing feel a bit more boisterous and in-depth, mainly because it blends those tones to create something almost theatrical, in a sense.
The record is called The Illusion Is Gone, and the first track exemplifies exactly what I'm talking about.
The introduction song is called "Welcome my Fate", and it's riddled with these organs that are thick and provide this underground classic rock sort of feel.
The guitars are clean for the most part. The rhythm guitars come in two layers, and they do have an intensity to them, but are indeed clean and not distorted.
There's a lot of overlaying melody throughout this track. There are sections of the song that sound like electric guitar and organ riffs coming through and performing these melodic licks together.
During these parts, the organ sounds like it's got this reverb effect on it, and I think it's a really cool element of the track simply because it gets embedded in your brain.
I'm also a big fan of instrumental hooks in rock music, and I have found in recent years that it has lessened. This was totally refreshing and still brings that theatrical underbelly
However, my favorite part of the song comes towards the end, as the last minute or so of the track suddenly changes pace. The main song sort of fades out, and a new guitar riff comes in with a bit more heaviness to it.
This is where is he alternative rock aspect fits. The whole final minute of the track is a faster pace; it's more full-bodied, and it hits harder.
This was awesome because it felt like the song was alive and breathing. It suddenly changed shape.
Listening to a song like this actually does give the vibe of a live performance in general. Just the way this energy is between the players and how they click.
"Stories of Love" follows that individual first song, and this one has a wildness to it. It's a sort of rambunctious. Its energy is totally through the roof, the vocals are doing this great melody, and the drumming is absolutely outstanding, giving unique time signatures and electric performances that the rest of the band pushes right off of.
Talk about Synergy indeed. The song is like the pinnacle of that feeling; like everyone is feeding off of each other.
The organs play a main part once again, and at this point in the record, you realize that those keys are an important element of how their aesthetic comes through. It's as loud in the mix as the guitars are most of the time. It's a main instrument instead of a background one, and I love this.
"Can't Feel Sorry" is a really fun track, and you can hear a bit more pop sensibility coming from it. It's got a colorful undertone, and the vocals are really animated.
The vocalist in this band does an amazing job of balancing between creating melodic hooks, telling stories, and bringing different levels of intensity at just the right times.
A lot of the time, the singer helps drive that energy.
The record closes with the song called "In a Lifetime", which is actually a pretty elegant track. The tones on the instruments are a little different this time; it's slightly more tripped-out and psychedelic, but then the whole record is in a certain way.
This one feels a little more experimental, and there's a lot of different layers and tones to chew on.
There's a lot of ascending build and melodies throughout this track. The vocals are really up there in intensity at times as he belts out, and there's a lot of depth to this one.
This is a song that gives a damn near perfect example of how this band can create an entire atmosphere out of tone, mood, and melody.
This whole record is quite a mood, actually. It's an engulfing piece of work. It can swallow you up, and when it does, it feels really good because it pulls you away from whatever you're doing and puts you in their headspace.
The whole thing feels almost fantastical; as if you're hearing tales of lore.
This was a really cool release, and I definitely dig their blend of rock approaches coming together seamlessly and creating an aesthetic where you can hear classic elements blending with current ones.
I would dig into this one with headphones on because it's one of the best ways to really take it all in.
So, check this out, especially if you're into experimental indie and alternative rock with progressive undertones and brilliant arrangements.
Remember where you heard it first.
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