VISUAL CLIFF

Progressive Metal • United States

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Relationships and chance encounters is the background for the formation of US act VISUAL CLIFF. Rob Perez (guitars) had become aquainted with Rick Mals (drums) in the 80's, and in the early 90's with Rob Klan (keyboards). In both cases circumstances saw to it that they drifted apart though, but in 1999 Perez sought out Rick with some ideas in mind in terms of creating music tiogether, and a chance encounter with Klas in a restaurant and then later in the year hooking up with Eric Fuller (bass) resulted in a band forming - more or less.

A demo was made at first, but as Fuller had an education to finish, as well as getting married, concrete results didn't appear until 2003, with the release of Visual Cliff's debut album "Lyrics For The Living", and it wasn't until one year later that Fuller could join the band in earnest, for read more...

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VISUAL CLIFF Discography

VISUAL CLIFF albums / top albums

VISUAL CLIFF Lyrics for the Living album cover

4.00 | 1 ratings

Lyrics for the Living
Progressive Metal 2003

VISUAL CLIFF Key To Eternity album cover

3.50 | 1 ratings

Key To Eternity
Progressive Metal 2004

4.00 | 2 ratings

Freedom Within
Progressive Metal 2005

4.00 | 1 ratings

Into The After
Progressive Metal 2007

VISUAL CLIFF Collective Spirit album cover

3.00 | 1 ratings

Collective Spirit
Progressive Metal 2010

VISUAL CLIFF EPs & splits

VISUAL CLIFF live albums

VISUAL CLIFF demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

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VISUAL CLIFF Reviews

VISUAL CLIFF Key To Eternity

Album · 2004 · Progressive Metal

AtomicCrimsonRush

A great symphonic sound blended with heavy distorted driving rhythm guitars, worth getting hold of for sheer musical virtuosity. This album was produced before Shane Lankford joined the ranks with his crystal clear vocals. Here is a range of instrumentals all played with well executed finesse. Piano is heavily featured and although the guitars are distorted the sound is very uplifting.

There are a wide variety of time sig changes and progressive structures throughout. Some tracks are very melodic while others feature the raw intensity of a metal sound.

The Return begins the album well and is featured in two part form. Romans 10 is apparently based on the Bible chapter of the same name and is very catchy. Living Proof has a jagged guitar riff and is edgy music that features a soaring guitar solo that rises above the other instruments like a double edged sword. Angleic Shield is melancholy prog with flute and clean guitar picking. The guitar solo is wonderful again. The Message has clean guitar and tom tom drums and creates an ambience to end the album on a high note.

I have not heard a bad Visual Cliff album from their first 4 albums. I recommend them to any one who likes a heavy but not too intense metal sound.

more than 2 years ago
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VISUAL CLIFF Into The After

Album · 2007 · Progressive Metal

AtomicCrimsonRush

Incredible hard driving rock blended with symphonic sections and very strong compositions throughout. Beyond the Gates is excellent as a highlight worth listening to here. The vocals are clean and easy to understand based on Christian principles and as a result very uplifting. Listen to Broken Soul, a great track, the vocal performance is simply brilliant. The band shine on all the vocal tracks, but instrumentals are very well executed as well.

Empty Words features more lyrics about living right and speaking encouraging words rather than discouraging. The performance is great by the band, and I would count this as a highlight. The lyrics are excellent: "That is not a part of your shattered broken soul? this is not the door to heal your broken, shattered soul, clinging to the choices that have failed you in the past? "

My Guardian Angel has an excellent progtastic riff, heavy, foreboding and complex. I love these riffs, they just hit you immediately. No vocals but on this occasion the music is vibrant enough to sustain the track. The quiet moments are balanced perfectly with the heavy blasts. My favourite instrumental on the album, just listen to it now on this site. I love the end section that speeds up and really cranks along at a cracking pace. Once these riffs lock in they are bliss to the ears.

Beyond the Gates is a melodic song, and once again great vocal performance from Lankford. He has an excellent vocal range and really powers out this track. Another highlight on this album for certain.

The rhythm guitar is masterfully played, very metal and original time changes throughout each track. Some tracks are very melodic while others feature the raw intensity of a metal sound.

12 Stone Gardens launches into worship style choruses "To God be the Glory and to the one above", and The Multitudes is an instrumental with quiet gentle guitar and subtle piano. There is great diversity on this album. This instrumental is very ambient and flows alon nicely similar to the first 2 albums of Visual Cliff that were purely instrumental and much quieter.

Sounds at times like Riverside, King Crimson, Dream Theater or Rush with a Christian edge. I recommend it to any one who likes a heavier but not too intense metal sound. In the After and Freedom Within are the two albums to get hold of for a heavier sound but the other 2 albums are also excellent quality.

more than 2 years ago
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Report #236855

VISUAL CLIFF Freedom Within

Album · 2005 · Progressive Metal

AtomicCrimsonRush

Take the plunge over the Visual Cliff.

A heavier Visual Cliff album with some excellent riffs and vocals. This was the first time the band decided to add the vocals of Shane Lankford and it was a welcome change. The instrumentals of past albums are still here on occasion but the songs are the best tracks. Sacred and Beneath the Sand a re wonderful heavy tracks with very powerful lyrics based on Christian living. The guitars are subtle but very riff heavy, like recent Rush in some ways.

The riff in Radiant Departure could do with a vocal accompaniment but it works well enough. I like the scratchy guitar and the lead breaks are as excellent as past releases.

This album does not have the ambience and heavy reliance on piano of the other Visual Cliff albums and once again the change in style is for the better. Having said that there are still wonderful keyboard sections but not as bombastic or overbearing.

The progressive time changes in Torn From Expression are great, another killer instrumental based on heavy riffing and clean lead breaks. This track is a bit Dream Theater/Rush in style and structure. I love that riff! Check it out here on the PA. In fact once again the entire album, indeed the entire discography of the band is free to listen to here on streaming audio!

The riffing continues on Spirit Rain, another instrumental. Rush sounding as ever, and memorable melody with a number of time signature changes, heavy to melancholy in blasts and the lead guitar shines on this instrumental track.

So what are you waiting for? Take the plunge over the Visual Cliff. This is definitely one of the best bands I have heard in a long time. Yet to produce a masterpiece, but this comes very, very close. All are 4 stars but this is their best album along with 'Into The After'.

more than 2 years ago
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Report #236854

VISUAL CLIFF Lyrics for the Living

Album · 2003 · Progressive Metal

AtomicCrimsonRush

Spiritual Fusion of Rock, Metal and Jazz - welcome to Visual Cliff

What a pleasant surprise. My feelings are they play great rhythmic jazz fusion music with some heavy distorted guitar riffing, very low and chunky with serene streams of keyboard washes. Beautiful at times and broken with jagged guitar motifs that lock in and capture the tracks with admirable precision. All instrumental and highly engaging and uplifting music. Not sure why all the scripture references because there is no scripture read but it makes a nice change from listening to all the doom and gloom of a lot of prog rock. This is Spiritually exhilarating in contrast.

1. Piercing the skies (Psalm 33) The rhythmical metrical patterns are fractured and progressive. Mal's splintered drum beats are prevalent throughout to compliment the estranged guitars of Perez. Klan's Piano layered underneath adds to the instrumental prowess of the band. One of the best tracks on offer.

2. The endless generation (Psalm 49) A more mainstream approach with this track. Settles into a jazz drum pattern mid way through. Very catchy melodies and uplifting music. The metal riffing guitars are excellent to break up all the quieter moments. I love that guitar sound.

3. Spirit filled (Psalm 96). Another very well executed guitar motif and quirky time sig that keeps the metronome swinging. Great guitar work on this again, some wah wah style, and lots of clean chord playing.

4. Conquering Mind (Psalm 118). Another gentle, warm track sounding a little like Tommy Emmanuel, a Christian guitar instrumentalist extraordinaire. The guitars really soar on this track, and pulsate to the jazz drumming. Beautiful and lilting from end to end. Heavier guitars crash in at the end but they are never overbearing and provide a welcome contrast.

5. Leap ff faith (Psalm 115). (can someone fix that typo on the track list here!) This begins heavier with short stabs of 2 note structures, and then a wonderful clean guitar lead overlayed. One of the highlights of the album, heavily reliant upon Perez's metal sounding guitar riffs and solo work.

6. For all she is. A nice gentle guitar instrumental. Pleasant sounding and warm throughout.

7. Wisdom's call. Great guitar harmonics begin the track and then the very warm sounds of guitar picking from Perez. The keyboard washes are excellent and add to an ambience of melancholia and quietude. The distorted guitar crunches in soon and there is a blistering lead break that follows. All played to perfection by the trio and another highlight on this album.

8. Rapture is the longest track and begins with a great heavy riff that is distorted and aggressive. Perez really excels on this track. My favourite track easily, that locks into a huge riff and excellent lead guitar solos. There are many riffs on this track and it never slows down or gets dull. This is a showcase of guitar and off kilter jazz drumming. The piano is a subtle addition.

Visual Cliff are worth listening to without a doubt and some of the best instrumentals I have heard in a long while. Listen to it and make your own mind up, but this is a very pleasant surprise.