Recent Reviews

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

December 2022

[ More Music Reviews ]


eMolecule: The Architect
eMolecule - The Architect Album Art

eMolecule: The Architect

Progressive Rock/Metal
4.0/5.0

Internet Facebook Instagram
InsideOut Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.02.2023 | Released: 10.02.2023

eMolecule marks the return of the collaboration between two multi-instrumentalist and friends, former Sound of Contact members Simon Collins and Kelly Nordstrom. Under the Sound of Contact moniker they released Dimensionaut to the world. Working together, off and on, Collins and Nordstrom decided to gather for a new project and debut album based on Kelly's demo, eMolecule. And so also the new band name. Their debut album, The Architect, a concept album, hits the streets this week on the InsideOut label.

eMolecule Click For Larger Image

eMolecule

While The Architect has been disclosed as a concept album, I have now knowledge of the same. Press material and band social media are silent about it. (Although my first suspicion went to the recent Adrian Tchaikovsky novel, Shards Of Earth, which I'm currently reading.) Nevertheless we can speak to the eMolecule's musical approach which, in the larger context, is a mixture of progress rock and metal. But that is an over simplification. Several elements combine: heavy, sometimes bombastic, riffage.



Several elements combine including: sometimes heavy, even bombastic, riffage merge with moments and segues of synths, electronica and programming, piano, symphonic atmospheres. Generally, most arrangements feature the latter group, along with variations in vocal arrangements. Vocals can be twisted between the melodic, spoken, and bit rough. With some songs there's even an under current of rock groove (Prison Planet, The Universal, Beyond Belief). Overall, the eMolecule soundscape reminds something of sci-fi space opera motif like, yet different than, Dire Peril, Thank You Scientist, or an Arjen Lucassen project. In the end, what will convince prog fans is the intrigue and creativity of the arrangements. There may be constant and overarching themes but each song has its own moments of adventure.

Ergo, and most things considered, eMolecule featuring prog vets Simon Collins and Kelly Nordstrom, offers listeners progressive rock steeped in genre tradition yet also offering imaginative twists. Recommended.



Support the Artist & Dangerdog Music Reviews: This title is available, with unlimited streaming, via an Amazon Music account.


CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft


The Take Away

Most things considered, eMolecule featuring prog vets Simon Collins and Kelly Nordstrom, and their debut, offers listeners progressive rock steeped in genre tradition yet also offering imaginative twists. Recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
Album of the Week
Read the Excalion: Once Upon A Time Album Review

Formed 23 years ago, Finland's Excalion has had a turbulent musical career. Before releasing a trio of albums between 2005 and 2010, they had personnel changes. Currently, only the drummer and keyboard ... [ Read More ]

February 2023 Stats
  • Users: 6,845
  • New Users: 6,014
  • Sessions: 12,486
  • Pageviews: 45,385
  • Pages/Session: 3.63
  • Bounce Rate: 14.11%

    • Source: Google Analytics