Marsyas has emerged on the progressive metal scene with their debut, and stellar album, Emergence; released January 17, 2020.
Marsyas was founded in the autumn of 2014, in Bergamo, Italy, by Lorenzo Pasini, on vocals and guitar. The other band members include: Kamome Gabbiano, on bass and backing vocals; Marco Adobati, on guitar; Omar Ghezzi, on drums; and Paolo Salvi, on keyboards and synth.
Emergence is the perfect title for a debut album, and this is great music to open your discography. They also have a very unique style to their album cover. It is rendered by a software that works with a given set of parameters in combination with random variables. Therefore, the result of the process differs every time, and it explores the emergent properties of the algorithm. The program was designed by Francesco Luzzana.
The band plays unique and wonderful music. They blend, jazz, progressive rock, and metal so well that with each song, you are not sure which genre they will choose next. Even during a song, they may switch genres, which is very unique and original.
As an example; the opening song, “Far as Far Run Thoughts”, opens with beautiful jazz like keyboards and soft guitar chords, with accompanying bass. The keyboards are followed by heavier progressive guitars and Lorenzo Pasini singing, “All around is dark. Hide into the womb. Close the door and fly. Far as far run thoughts”. It is almost like a trip back to From Genesis to Revelation, especially the womb part. Took me right back to “A Place to Call My Own”. But, unlike Genesis, Marsyas brings on the drums and the heavy electric guitar chords and bass. It turns into an almost metal song, before it settles back down to regular progressive metal.
The transitions are excellent, constantly keeping you on your toes and keeping you entertained, above all. The keyboards are exceptional and balance out the heavy metal sound well. The Rush – like echoes that permeate are also a great nuance. Pasini’s voice, a little like an Italian Peter Gabriel. Lower key sounds like Peter’s normal delivery.
From there it gets even better. The synth work at the beginning of “Wait for the Tide”, will take you right back to early Genesis, while the drum rhythm will take you back to Images and Words, Portnoy. The consistent blistering drums and guitar rhythms challenge definition and above all comparison. That beautiful keyboard rhythm in the background is magical.
At this point, if you purchased this only hearing one or two songs, like me, well, you are celebrating Marsyas’ emergence. Then they let that wonderful piano play, with soft drums, jazzing things up before a magnificent guitar solo, followed by a metal like extravaganza.
“As Water”, opens with Images and Words level piano, before some intricate lead electric guitar supported with Chris Squire – like big thumping bass chords. The piano turns jazzy as the drumkit introduces cymbals. Then, suddenly another heavy metal gallop, before settling on a soft plucked Rush interlude, like 2112.
At this point, you are wondering, like I did, why I have never heard of these guys? Well, this album has been six years in the making. Kind of like a Tool, commitment to make the best you can. You can’t possibly get bored on this album, because of its many changing tempos and genre interventions. No way to pigeon-hole this band.
“When the Lights were Bright” is full of some spectacular moments of both keyboards and some of the best guitar work. The lyrics and Pasini’s voice fill the opening, “Float with us in serenity. And accomplish our motionless journey. Behold the darkness defeated by communion. And the blazing light that flares from our might. I’ve walked by golden roads. And countless eyes have heard my steps. When the nights were bright”.
“No Time for an End”, is full of many surprises in musical direction. The piano, guitars and drums have never sounded they same way as they sound on this track. Mostly instrumental, the mountainous climb of the grinding guitars, supported well with climbing keys is an assault, the likes of which you probably have not heard in a long while. There you go, Pasini just sang it, “Trapped in the bowels of the earth.
Frantically waiting. And covered in centuries of ice”. Like lava waiting to erupt.
With a title like, “Palace of the Living”, your expectations are high. And this song lives up to every expectation. The organ-like keys are a nice change. The, at times, shouted lyrics are interesting, “Behold this never-ending flight. This rail runs till the end of time. Through mountains and cliffs, it rides. The sky now better fear our might”. The instrumental play of keyboards and guitar that follows is soft then absolutely epic and building like a great classic. Very Rush/Dream Theater-like near the end.
“Master Mundi” is full of more of that Rush/Dream Theater firepower.
The closer, “The Dance of the Archangels”, is one of the longest tracks, at over eight minutes. It opens with bell-like keys, before the heavy guitarwork begins. But this is a Rush sound tempered with the influence of Yes. Pasini sings, “Subconscious takes over. While vibrations change. Memories stick to the brain. And gracefully the soul flies away. Migrating from body to body. Spirits collect knowledge. To be shared with the whole. Joining the dance of the archangels”. A great closer, full of the kind of lyrics that make you want to come back for more.
This is a band; every music reviewer searches for daily. Someone who plays music that you like, and maybe are used to hearing, but absolutely not in the same way as they are playing it. A band that just knocks you off your feet with their originality. Yes, you can hear similarities, I’ve pointed some of them out already. But most of the music on this album is arranged unlike anything you have ever heard. And that is their secret, the arrangements of the music.
I have been trying to move away from track-by-track reviews, but some bands just demand track-by-track. Marsyas is one of those bands…especially on their debut.
Please give this album a spin. You will be glad you did. Now that Marsyas has emerged, I can’t wait to hear the rest of the full discography they will be creating over the coming years.
Track List
- Far as Far Run Thoughts – 5:55
- Wait for the Tide – 8:30
- As Water – 5:56
- When the Nights Were Bright – 6:25
- No Time for an End – 5:59
- Palace of the Living – 7:42
- Master Mundi – 5:40
- The Dance of the Archangels – 8:15
https://marsyas.bandcamp.com/album/emergence
https://www.instagram.com/marsyas.band/