Rating: 9 / 10 Stars
TALIESIN is: Dave Howe (vocals), Richard Moseley (guitar, keys & vocals), Reuben Durham (guitars, keys & vocals), Chris Tur (bass & vocals), Wayne Bateup (drums)
REVIEW – TALIESIN is a Canberra-based Australian five-piece progressive metal band. Despite the band’s formation in 1995, their debut album was not released until 2007. Following the independent release of their debut album, ‘The Tally of Lies and Sin,’ the band was inactive for a number of years and underwent numerous roster changes before settling on the current lineup.
Now Taliesin’s is back with their new album, titled “Faceless,” which is slated to be released on April 15, 2022.
The recording took place over the months of December 2014 and January 2015. It is a concept album about a serial murderer who suffers from facial blindness, also known as prosopagnosia, and thinks that his illness is the reason why he behaves the way he does. The concept is throwback to the closing track “Simple,” from their debut album ‘The Tally of Lies and Sin’ where the figure makes his first appearance.
So, why did it take seven years until ‘Faceless’ was finally released to the public?
There have been a lot of obstacles to overcome. The first problem was that the computer that was used to record the album suddenly stopped working. A backup hard disk was present, however it was lacking a significant volume of data. The band came to the conclusion that they should give it a go themselves and mix it with what was left. First, the bass track had to be redone, and then there was a fire in the recording studio, which ruined everything. It was thought that was the end… so the band moved on to new material.
A couple of albums worth of new music was written and recorded during the COVID lock down. During the course of this writing and recording, a duplicate of the ‘Faceless’ backup data was found. Among the members of the band, there were sufficient files to piece everything back together again. Early in 2022, the band completed mixing ‘Faceless’ after reaching the conclusion that it should be released before any of the newly recorded material.
TALIESIN kick off ‘Faceless’ with “Awakened By Darkness,” which has heavy guitars, pounding rhythms, and commanding vocals. The second tune, titled “Climbing,” has a beat that is quite memorable and chanting vocals that immediately draw you in. The following song, “Faceless Women,” will transport the listener to a time when music had the power to stir up a person’s emotions and stimulate their imagination. The fourth track, “The Wilderness,” will have you standing, screaming, and yelling as you enjoy the musical voyage into the wilderness.. The following song, “Reflection,” is a dreamy melody that will transport you to a world where you can only be reached in your innermost thoughts.
The sixth song, “Not Coming Home,” is an anthem that will have you stomping your feet, banging your head, and pumping your fists. The next track, titled “My Sleeping Prize,” features vocals that soar beyond the heavens in addition to screaming leads and solid beats. The following track, “Turbulence,” is the kind of song that you can really get into if you shut your eyes and let your imagination run wild. The next track, “Truth of the Hunter,” is an impressive piece that has amazing music and vocals that are filled with passion. The last tune, “Widower’s Daughter,” will induce the listener to sense as if they are floating through an emotional memory.
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