Radio Silence (Aboufanti Music, 2015)
Exovex is the project of multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer-songwriter Dale Simmons. Although it’s envisioned as a progressive rock project, Exovex crosses over into other genres such as grunge and heavy metal.
Radio Silence opens with one of the best tracks on the album, “Stolen Wings”. The piece has strong Steven Wilson influences on the vocal and instrumental side. It’s a dreamy piece with a great balance between intensity and reflective sounds.
Track two “Metamorph” follows in a similar direction, with an introspective sensitivity and superb solo guitar work. Grunge appears on “Seeker’s Prayer” with a combination of hard rock and screaming vocals. The progressive edge comes in the form a guitar melody.
The grunge mode continues on “The Last Orbit” despite the more proggy space rock segments.“Dead Reckoning” is cross between grunge and outright heavy metal.
The final piece, “Daylight (Silent Key)” returns the music to solid progressive rock with more memorable guitar work and influences from later-era Pink Floyd.
The lineup on Radio Silence includes Dale Simmons on guitars, vocals and keyboards; Josh Freese and Keith Carlock on drums; and Nicole Neely on cello and violin. The album also includes two members of Porcupine Tree, Gavin Harrison on drums and Richard Barbieri on keyboards and synthesizers.