Opposite Earth
Headspace
Progressive Arts/Conquest
Here's something that's aimed at an audience that's tired of hearing wimpy MTV metal and today's popular music. Opposite Earth is a progressive metal band, incorporating the tone and texture of thrash metal with the progressions and melodies of progressive rock. Though Headspace sounds like a medley of bands like Metallica, Dream Theater, etc., these guys have done more than just a mix and match job in this album... and what has turned out rocks pretty hard!
As expected of any good progressive metal album, Headspace is chops-heavy and very well arranged. The album is richly flavored with extended progressions and guitar solos, that interestingly sound like a cross between circus music and a technical exercise! Thematically, though Headspace is not morbid, it is very Metallican. I would have sworn the lyricist was listening to Metallica's "One" or "Harvester of Sorrow" when he wrote "Falling Down."
"Always Now," the album opener, sets off with a groovy and heavy riff, with the vocalist chanting "Time to live, time to die." Ballsy killer rhythms and flailing drum patterns build up the song. Towards the end is a pounding riff that reminds one a lot of the "darkness imprisoning me" riff in Metallica's "One." "Primal" starts with a Primus-like bass riff, opening the gates of thrashville and shredville, then gliding smoothly into a melodic guitar run. "Natural Defense," apparently a song about a vengeful green planet, features cool synthesizers and guitar solos. "Blame" and "Statement," the first singles off the CD, follow suit.
The unattractive part of the album is the weak Middle-Eastern vocals, which very much fail to convey the aggression and ferocity expressed in the lyrics and music composition. Nevertheless, you ought to give this CD a spin for its not-so-common musicality and style. Conquest Music Group, 4820 SW 70th Ave., Davie, FL 33314
--George Jegadesh
