Prognosis – Esigen EP
Prognosis – Esigen EP
Self-Released
Release Date: 08/12/23
Running Time: 19:54
Review by Oli Gonzalez
9/10
Prognosis. Noun. Prediction about the cause of a disease. Or in this case, Manchester’s own Progressive Metal band! A band I’ve been familiar with, and followed, for several years now. Powerhouses in their hometown, they won their region’s Metal To The Masses competition and thus earned the right to play Bloodstock’s prestigious New Blood Stage. Their reputation grew as they began to play all over the country and even abroad, including the ironically named Prognosis Festival in the Netherlands. They even had the opportunity to share stages with powerhouses such as Devin Townsend Project and Opeth!
The band have undergone some lineup changes in recent times, especially since their album “Definition”, which led to critical acclaim and an 8/10 from Metal Hammer. Since frontman Danny left the band, I’ve been curious as to how this new lineup will sound, especially from a vocal point of view, on this latest release and 3 track EP “Esigen”. Will we get a heavier Progressive Metal sound like earlier Opeth, or a more Rock style similar to Dream Theater? Only time will tell. Let’s get into it.
The EP opens with ‘Phantom Force’. Well, first impressions are that the intensity and heaviness is certainly still there! Rather than a more raw and gritty Thrash inspired heaviness, we get a sound that is much more polished and refined. The production values are very admirable and at a high standard. New vocalist Corban certainly demonstrates versatility, with some calming and somewhat soothing cleans, alternating seamlessly with some impressive growls and screams. It’s a similar story with the music, with some intricate and jaw dropping skilled guitar work in one moment, before witnessing some sheer jaw breaking heaviness! It’s all about contrast after all.
‘Follow You Down’ opens with a more delicate yet ominous guitar passage. You just know this is going to be followed up with yet another outrageously heavy drop. It does come, and it’s wonderful! This is certainly the heaviest song of the album. Rather than just playing mindless blast beats and drop tuning to double E standard, like some modern metal bands would, I admire how Prognosis keeps this heaviness, yet still maintains that refined edge to the sound. This is definitely one for those who like their Prog heavy!
Finally, we have ‘Kissing Vipers’. This is another song flirting between intricacy and skull-crushingly heavy, which is fast becoming a trademark for Prognosis. Some of the Djent inspired rhythms here are just delightful, definitely the infectious kind of grooves that make you want to abandon the sofa and dance like nobody’s watching. That’s not the highlight for me though. No, that comes at around the five minute mark. Here, we’re treated to a wonderful ethereal passage, the calm before the storm if you will. Because the closing to this song is phenomenal. You can just sense the passion dripping out of Corban’s voice, as well as the sheer intensity and raw human emotion radiating from each instrument as they reach a euphoric climax. A solid end to an equally solid album.
For me, it seems as though the band have traded some of that earlier raw grit for more polished technical proficiency. Whether this is better for the band or not is not really the debate here. Prognosis clearly have returned with this stunning effort, which should command the attention of everybody and anybody within the scene. After some time in the doldrums and rebuilding, I feel as though Prognosis are coming back and will take the underground scene by storm and regain that momentum that saw them reach the heights they did earlier in their career and further.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Phantom Force
02. Follow You Down
03. Kissing Vipers
LINE-UP:
Corban Skillånder – Vocals
Phil Weller – Guitars/Vocals
Lewin Cantor – Guitars/ Vocals
Yan Akoya – Drums
LINKS:
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