Courtesy: Symphony Novel
India-based progressive metal band Symphony Novel recently debuted its latest single. ‘Ethereal Ash,’ the band’s latest single is a piece that is unlike the works crafted by most other bands of its ilk. Its mix of traditional Indian musical styling and heavier, progressive metal makes for a song that defies the standards of progressive metal itself. The song’s rather thought provoking lyrics set against that hybrid musical side makes the song even more intriguing for anyone looking for something that will actually make audiences stop for once and take real notice. The song’s companion video adds even more depth, making for even more interest among audiences. Together with the song’s lyrical and musical side, it serves to make ‘Ethereal Ash’ a song that everyone should hear at least once.
One of the most common practices that many American rock bands use in their records is incorporating a Middle Eastern sound into its music. It’s something that’s used all too often in the hard rock world. Save for indie rock band Boy Hits Car, few other bands today have really utilized Indian music in their records. So hearing a band from India actually turning the tables and utilizing more Western elements into its own sound to create this song is actually relatively original. That hybrid sound is the core of what makes ‘Ethereal Ash’ so intriguing. The dual guitar attack of Vivek Khati and Rachit Sachdeva conjures thoughts of Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci’s own work. And the harmonies created by Gauri Ayeer and Suvarna Tiwari’s dual vocals are so haunting to say the very least. There is so much power in the subtle manner in which they carry their parts. The addition of a cello line to the song adds even more depth to the song’s musical side that must be heard to be fully appreciated. As subtle as it is, this part combined with the heavier elements of the song’s musical side adds so much emotional depth to the song. ‘Etheral Ash’s’ musical side is by itself an impressive part of the whole song. The reality of the matter is that if the song were to have only its musical side to boast, it would still be just as interesting as it is with its lyrical side. Speaking of the song’s lyrical side, the lyrics are one more element of ‘Ethereal Ash’ that makes it such an interesting work.
The musical side of ‘Etheral Ash’ by itself makes this latest single from Symphony Novel worth more than just one listen. It makes the song one that anyone looking for something truly original should hear. The lyrical side of ‘Ethereal Ash’ takes the song’s musical side and adds even more depth to the song. The band explains that the song’s lyrical content is rather socially charged. It centers on mankind’s mistreatment of the Earth, and the potential outcome of mankind’s mistreatment. Ayeer and Tiwari sing in the song’s opening verse, “Rain falls again/Unfurls wild color/The earth smirks insane/Carpets the stain of sorrow/New wings span everywhere/Embrace the veil of destiny.” The band urges a warning in the song’s verse with Ayeer and Tiwari singing, “Heavens are clear now/But it wouldn’t last forever/Winds stay sealed in a jar/Away from all the torture/Silence kills me now/Leaves a trail of bleeding tears/From the pages of a story foretold/Epiphany.” Sachveda notes of these words that they are meant metaphorically, saying that mankind has done such damage to Earth that the winds themselves want to be put in a jar away from all of the bad things humans have done to the planet. He goes on to note that the lines regarding all of this environmental destruction were foretold. That likely isn’t necessarily a reference to Nostradamus but to other “prophecies.” Things only get more dire in the song’s second verse with Ayeer and Tiwari singing of crashing waves (tsunamis) and other signs of the prophecy in question. Sachveda notes that in writing this line, he was thinking of all of the natural disasters that have been ravaging the Earth in recent years, thus that verse was written. It’s a foreboding warning, true. But it is also a very powerful statement, too. It was not meant to be preachy, but rather to get people to sit up and take notice of what humans have done to the world. He wanted to get people to consider the ramifications of the damage being done to the Earth without being preachy but rather more poetic. The good news is that said goal was attained and done expertly, too. It really doesn’t come across as just another nihilistic downer of a song. But it definitely does hit hard when taking those lyrics into consideration. Taking also into consideration such hard-hitting lyrics next to the song’s deeply emotional musical side, ‘Ethereal Ash’ becomes an even more powerful piece for audiences to take in.
The combination of ‘Ethereal Ash’s’ musical and lyrical sides makes this song a hard hitting work. They combine to make a song that is just as strong as anything released by Symphony Novel’s more well-known prog-rock counterparts both stateside and overseas. Given the chance, ‘Ethereal Ash’ could make Symphony Novel one of the next big names in prog-metal and even world music. Thankfully, the band has increased its chances of the song being heard around the world as it has posted the song’s companion video online via YouTube. Audiences can view the video online now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqRPUvJkPqI. The video incorporates that element of a prophecy of sorts to add even more depth to the song. It presents right off the top, a document that is surrounded by candles in an otherwise dark room. That same document comes into play throughout the course of the song, with the song’s lyrics fading in and out. This is mixed in with shots of the band recoding the song in the studio. It heightens the song’s emotional impact even more when given full attention. That added emotion coupled with the combination of the song’s musical and lyrical sides prove even more why ‘Ethereal Ash’ is the song that could help Symphony Novel become one of the next big names in the realm of prog-metal.
‘Ethereal Ash’ is Symphony Novel’s latest single. The band’s debut album ARIA is available online now via Amazon, CDBaby, and other online retailers. More information on that album and all of the latest news from Symphony Novel is available online at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SymphonyNovel
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SymphonyNovel
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