Spheric Universe Experience – Back Home

Artist: Spheric Universe Experience

Album Title: Back Home

Label: Uprising! Records

Date of Release: 20 May 2022

The origins of Spheric Universe Experiment date back to before the Millennium, but the ensuing quarter of a decade have not been plain sailing for the French progressive metal outfit. Line-up changes and break-ups have featured amongst other things, meaning that we had to wait until 2005 for a debut album (‘Mental Torments’) Another three records were released subsequently, the last being ‘The New Eve’ in 2012. After a period of touring, a live album, (‘Live In London 2016’), and extensive songwriting, the quintet have finally returned with a new studio album, entitled ‘Back Home’.

Founder and guitarist Vince Benaim remains in place to lead Spheric Universe Experience into a new chapter of their career. He is joined in 2022 by keyboardist Fred Colombo, bassist John Drai, vocalist Frank Garcia, and drummer Romain Goulon, all of whom are integral members of the Cote d’Azur-based band and feature strongly on this new record.

The title of the album, with its beautiful and striking artwork, has a double meaning. Firstly, and most simply, ‘Back Home’ represents the fact that Spheric Universe Experience have returned with a new album and are in their natural, happy place. But additionally, it also references the album’s central story because in good old fashioned progressive metal style, ‘Back Home’ is a concept album, with a bold and strong sci-fi/space flavour to it. The central characters are, amongst other things, returning to Earth, hence ‘Back Home’.

In the past, if I had a quibble about the music of Spheric Universe Experience, it would have been that I found the music to lack a little in the melody stakes as well as the overall sound of the band. What I mean by this is that the melodies didn’t always stick with me as I would have hoped, sometimes being a little convoluted or fussy. Additionally, I felt that the compositions came across as a little weak sounding, lacking enough grunt or muscle, particularly where the guitars and bass were concerned. As such, despite showing flashes of brilliance, their previous albums narrowly missed out on being essential listening for me. Others will naturally disagree with this, but that’s my opinion. Or it was, because ‘Back Home’ addresses all of these things and in so doing, delivers a truly compelling listening experience that, for me, announces them as one of the genre’s brightest prospects.

Funnily enough, a week or two before I got my hands on this promo, I was thinking that 2022 had so far been a fairly mediocre year for what I would loosely describe as ‘classic’ progressive metal, the kind of music that was spearheaded by the likes of Dream Theater, where strong melodies combine with technicality and impressive virtuosic instrumentation. The kind of progressive metal for which I have a definite soft spot despite not always being the biggest fan of Dream Theater themselves ironically. However, Spheric Universe Experience have come along at just the right time to redress the balance and scratch this particular itch of mine.

What I like about ‘Back Home’ as well as the improved production, is the way in which the Frenchmen manage to blend progressive metal with flashes of power metal speed, and a sense of bombast and flamboyance to enhance the effect of the concept story; in some ways, it has the feeling of a heavy rock opera almost, such is the ambition on display here.

I will be completely consistent with my criticism though and state that ‘Back Home’ is, at 77 minutes, too long. After a decade without new material, it’s not surprising that the band wanted to return with a bang, but the net result is that it’s a tad bloated, and in need of editing in places. To begin with, six of the compositions stretch beyond six-and-a-half minutes, and there are no less than four instrumental pieces within the thirteen tracks that feature on ‘Back Home’. They are not without merit, particularly the opening piece, ‘On Board SUE5-2469’ and ‘Synchronicity’ which is wonderfully cinematic and clever in the way that it reprises melodies heard in the former.

Despite this, when Spheric Universe Experience get it right, they really impress me. Take the double header of ‘Final Fate’ and ‘Where We Belong’ as perfect examples of everything that make Spheric Universe Experience such an exciting band. ‘Final Fate’ opens in true progressive style, all energy, odd time signatures, virtuosity, and power. Immediately, the importance of the synths is clear, lacing the whole thing in atmosphere as well as moments of solo virtuosity, but never entirely overdone. There’s a nice groove to the verses, whilst Frank Garcia impresses as he lets rip over a very melodic chorus; it may simply be the passage of time playing tricks on me, but I never remember the vocals of Spheric being this good before. ‘Where We Belong’ delivers one of the album’s killer choruses but is overall a much more theatrical piece, whilst still producing the chops, riffs, and complexity that will have prog fans grinning from ear to ear. I’m not overly sold on the way the song veers into West End Musical territory in the final couple of minutes, but you can’t fault the ambition for a second. And that chorus will be in your head for weeks, trust me.

One of the most interesting songs on ‘Back Home’ is the multi-faceted ‘Transcending Real Life’. The melodies are deceptively catchy, almost insidiously so actually. But it is the way the musicians are able to incorporate so many ideas into the track that makes it to compelling; funky slap bass, chunky and muscular riffs, gentle 80s-esque keyboard-led sections, and a strong Middle Eastern flavour with the introduction of Arabic-like melodies and vocals in the later stages – they all combine to great effect to fully engross me time and again.

I’m also a sucker for the ballad-like chorus and melodies within ‘Legacy’ which, at times, is also one of the heavier tracks, with some powerful riffs. This juxtaposition is a nice touch and demonstrates the skill of the band in being able to blend different styles together without seemingly a second thought. ‘Defenders Of Light’ is also very worthy of a mention as it kicks off as if it has been set alight, before dropping a fantastically fast and energetic chorus that’s strongly influenced by the power metal genre.

On balance, despite the misgivings about its length, I have to conclude that ‘Back Home’ is a hugely gratifying experience, not least because it signals a long-awaited return from a very talented band. They have left nothing at the door and have thrown the kitchen sink at this record in an attempt to create their strongest material yet. And, when the dust has settled, it is hard to argue to the contrary. With plenty of high-quality performances throughout the band, tons of variety, and a palpable sense of passion at every turn, ‘Back Home’ has to be the best release yet from Spheric Universe Experiment.

Share this:

Like this:

Related

Published by manofmuchmetal

Leave a Reply Cancel reply