CHAOS OVER COSMOS — A Dream If Ever There Was One (review)

CHAOS OVER COSMOS — A Dream If Ever There Was One album cover Album · 2022 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"A Dream if Ever There Was One" is the third full-length studio album by multi-national progressive metal act Chaos Over Cosmos. The album was independently released in November 2022. It´s the successor to "The Silver Lining Between the Stars" from August 2021 and features the same duo lineup who recorded the predecessor in Rafał Bowman (Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Programming) and vocalist KC Lyon. Keaton Lyon performs guest vocals on "Navigating by Moonlight". "A Dream if Ever There Was One" features six new compositions (40 minutes of music) and four previously released tracks in slightly different versions (new vocals, remastered and/or with added studio editings and effects), which adds up to an additional 24-25 minutes of music.

Stylistically the material on "A Dream if Ever There Was One" continues the futuristic sci-fi oriented progressive metal style of "The Silver Lining Between the Stars". It´s technical music featuring fast-paced riffs, even faster melodic lead guitar work (sometimes neo-classical influenced), well programmed drums, omnipresent futuristic sounding synths/keyboards, and aggressive screaming vocals on top (and occasional clean vocals). Some of the riffs/rhythms and especially the vocals belong in core territory (or 90s melodic death metal higher pitched screaming territory), but most of the instrumental part of the music is fast-paced and technical progressive metal. This is for those who enjoy their music busy and incredibly fast...ultra fast...ridiculously fast. The velocity is insane. You can of course program drums to play as fast you like, but especially the guitars are played at at impressive pace throughout the release. On the basis of that I´m not sure if Bowman isn´t also partically a mechanical being (a cyborg). It´s impossible not to be impressed by the blistering shredding which the listener is treated to (as the band write on their Bandcamp in the liner notes to this release: "Expect inhuman, technical and modern prog metal.").

The cold sci-fi atmosphere works well with the band´s songwriting approach although it can all at times get a little sterile and digital sounding. A little less polish and a bit more rawness to the production could have provided the recording with a bit more soul. When that is said I´m still highly entertained throughout the album´s playing time. The tracks are complex in structure, something new and exciting is happening all the time, the performances are on a high level, the sound production suits the material, and upon conclusion "A Dream if Ever There Was One" is therefore another high quality release from Chaos Over Cosmos. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.
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