Four years after their critically acclaimed album, Four Inches, the French progressive rock band PrYzme is ready, with the release of its second album, True Stories … And Other Lies, which was released on May 30th, of this year.
PrYzme is: Lucas Planque, on drums; Benoît Toquet, on bass and vocals; Dominique Blanchard, on guitars and vocals; David Chollet, on guitar and vocals. PrYzme was formed in 2014 in Rennes, France. Ten years of perseverance, patience and hard work have led to a sound that straddles the line between rock and progressive rock; music that resonates not only with aficionados of the genre but also with new listeners who may not be familiar with this particular style.
“True Stories and Other Lies”, has a new, unique sound for PrYzme. The band describes the album in this way, “The album explores a range of themes including ecology, anger, the confusion in the face of tragedy, and the dream of becoming talented… These are snippets of life that are both deeply personal to the band’s members and, at the same time, reflections—true or not—of universal human experiences. Hence the title of the album, which suggests that our stories can sometimes be lies in the eyes of others”.
“Echo of Silent Place”, is a quick isolated instrumental opening full of guitar, synths and background orchestration effects. Very cool and full of energy. Only, 1:18, minutes long, but I wish they would have gone longer.
“Earth Song”, is the first track with vocals off the album. It is also full of cool lead electric guitar and synth with keyboard effects that will fascinate. Then, Dominique Blanchard and David Chollet, share vocals, as they sing, “Hello human take your turn. The next one on my list. Don’t you worry. I’m not dying. Just making place so don’t resist. Hello human keep on smiling. Money won’t save your ass. There’s no way out of this now. It’s over trampling the grass. Two thousand years for my rebirth. No parasite on the ground. A pure atmosphere in the sky. Only virgin nature around. You had a lot of me to share. But your species didn’t care. Rather than being humble. You made yourself become the kings”. A great song about man’s inhumanity to man and the environment of the Earth. The instrumental jam session that ensues through the bulk of the song is excellent. The band sounds great, on album number two.
“End of the Anger”, is a little bit longer song, as the band builds towards the longest song. The opening is full of beautiful sounding keyboard/synth percussive sounds that are absolutely brilliant. Heavy electric guitars enter the soundscape, to strengthen the sound, and the band goes on another brilliant mini-instrumental. Then, Dominique Blanchard and David Chollet, share vocals, “In-every-storm we brave. In-every-path we trace. In-every-seed we sow. We find (a) way to glow. (And) after the tears have been shed. (And) after the wounds have bled. And doubts have been dispelled. Find strength within you. In flames we burn. Consumed by rage. A fierce anger, the heart of the storm. With every breath. We feel the rise. A storm within”. The bass playing takes over the stage and it sounds amazing. A great song hoping all of the world, to come to accommodations, rather than peril with anger and violence. They sing, “At the end of the anger. We must find common ground. To forget our rancor. Sowing love all around”. Again the musical instrumental jamming is wonderful on this song.
“Green Eyes”, is one of the longest songs on the album, at 11:10, minutes. It opens with wonderful, thoughtful acoustic guitar. The vocalist sings about a wonderful dream that seems so real, “Don’t understand the way I feel. Awaking from a gorgeous few day’s journey by the sea. Of a sunny day under the trees. Don’t understand what’s happening. A chill’s running down my spine and skin. Don’t know what bewitched me so much. I wish I could see and touch. A gentle voice from far away, coming from another time. Speaks to me with tenderness, it’s haunting my mind. Green eyes staring at my face, there’s no word I can find”. One of the best songs on the album. The stringed orchestration takes me back to some of Polish band, Satellite. The intricate electric guitar playing is so satisfying, accompanied by the keyboards, synths, and bass.
“Reality of Dreams”, opens with electric guitars and some cool prog synths. The use of the keyboards and synths throughout this album are like I remember from their last album. Excellent music, indeed. The vocalist sings, “One night, he had a dream in which he was famous, a legendary man. He wishes he became someone else. But he has no plan. How to do, to find a way, find a way. He started pondering, came up with some ideas. He began to try a lot of things, but in vain. The talent cannot be improvised. One day, he was offered a guitar. And then, surprise. How to do, to find a way, find a way”. The story of learning your trade and finding a good producer to help you go far, filled with heavier drumming and a keyboard lighted soundscape. The lyrics also help remind us all, to enjoy the trip up the “mountain” of experience. It is sometimes tough, but you are learning so much. Enjoy what you are gaining from the experience.
“Never Again”, is probably the heaviest and saddest song on the album. It opens with powerful metal – like electric guitars and stomping drums, blended well with solid bass. The vocalist sings, “What could a child have done wrong in his life. To deserve a death sentence?” It is a difficult song about the loss of a child and who is to blame. The vocalist sings the finale, “I learned that life hangs only by a thread. Then I will lay down my life for you”. The musicianship shines far beyond the desperate lyrics.
“Silent Place”, is the closing finale on “True Stories and Other Lies”.It is the longest track on the album, at over 12:12 minutes. The vocalist sings, “Mother, make sure they don’t let me go. Father, you have to feel it in your soul. Take me out of the deep darkness. I don’t wanna stay so far from home. I feel so lost in this silent place. Talk to me to keep me in control. Brother, I step into the way of souls. Father, don’t you know it’s not my goal. Riding through a land of despair. You should see me climb over the wall. To get out of this silent place. Because I cannot open the door”. Then, the band goes on a great instrumental journey within the song. The vocalist returns, “Please let me come back to you. I still got so much to do. Wanna see the other side of this day. Wanna take a ride to somewhere”. The music and orchestration again brings me back to Satellite and that is a place I always like to be.
PrYzme’s sophomore album, True Stories and Other Lies, is another wonderful surprise from this band. Every moment of this album has its elements of great musicianship and powerful lyrics. The stories told and advice provided are well worth your time and attention. So yes, take a listen to PrYzme’s “True Stories and Other Lies”, and enjoy some great French progressive rock.
The music and lyrics: David Chollet and Dominique Blanchard. Recording and mix: David Chollet. Drums recorded at Studio Bad Plafond by Bernard Bouessay. Mastering: Antoine Chabert at Chab Mastering – Paris. Images, layout, and logo: Yves Gomez and Hugo Colomban, Album distribution: Quadrifonic / FTF music.
Album Track List:
1. Echo of Silent Place (01:18)
2. Earth Song (07:57)
3. End of the Anger (08:45)
4. Green Eyes (11:10)
5. Reality of Dreams (07:24)
6. Never Again (07:56)
7. Silent Place (12:12)
Band Website and Social Media Links:
https://pryzme.bandcamp.com/album/true-stories-and-other-lies
https://www.instagram.com/pryzmerennes
https://www.facebook.com/Pryzme
YouTube and Music Video Links:
https://www.youtube.com/@pryzmerockprog87