Australians Caligula’s Horse are one of the bands that have been pushing hard in recent years to earn a place within the pantheon of the great stars of the increasingly competitive world of progressive music. Three years ago, with the launch of 'Rise Radiant', they were already positioned as one of the strongest competitors in the field and now with 'Charcoal Grace' consolidates itself as one of the great modern references of the genre.
'Charcoal Grace' is the logical evolution within the musical environment of Caligula's Horse, taking a step forward but within the same path that we could hear in 'Rise Radiant' e 'In Contact', but taken to a new level, always upwards. There is no room for experimentation here, instead the band takes the traditional sound they have previously delivered to a new height, simply competing with themselves.
For this new album, the band has found a balance between power and softness throughout the nine songs that make up this new work, nine of which are part of the same story, 'Pray', 'A World Without' , 'Vigil' and 'Give Me Hell', a sonic journey that will quickly become one of the band's fans' favorites.
In fact, if what you are looking for is an album full of rage and passages full of wrath,'Charcoal Grace'is not what you are looking for. This album is much more carried away by subtlety within the force, by much more melodic passages leaving aside the growls and is far from being material for a brutal moshpit. The songs that contain a harsher rhythm are 'Golem', the first single from the album and some parts of songs like 'The Stormchaser'. The album is much more focused on the beauty of the melodic elements that make up the entire album, thought about reflection and being enjoyed layer by layer, little by little, until the masterful closing with'Mute'.
In 'Charcoal Grace' you won't find any surprises. It's Caligula's Horse being themselves, testing themselves as far as they can go while being faithful to the style they have shown over the last few years. An album to be enjoyed song by song, little by little. Perfect for putting on your headphones on a rainy afternoon, closing your eyes and letting yourself go.
