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Benesser: The Start Of Something New
 The Power of Love, as Huey Lewis so memorably reminded us all is a curious thing as indeed Is the power of suggestion. It is entirely possible that I read the blurb for this release and mentally thought this isn't for me. Benesser's people suggest that, "If you love bands such as Muse, Coldplay, Rush, Black Country Communion and Subsignal you have found a new jewel from Sweden." Other than Rush I would never select from that particular paradigm of bands and any mention of Coldplay brings me out in a cold sweat. This would be because of their utter, utter blandness and sadly other than "Colors" (nice solo) that is the problem with Benesser. I can certainly see the Muse comparisons especially on "Where O Death" but sadly, for me, there's very little here to get the pulses racing as much of the album is so resoundingly dull and lacking in innovation.
Track Listing:
1 Where Silence Prevails 4:13
2 Babyface 3:40
3 Is It You 7:32
4 Colors 5:38
5 Where O Death 4:33
6 Sleepless Nights 6:57
7 Signs Of Time 3:17
8 For The Eyes Of The Lord 7:00
9 The Start Of Something New 3:44
Added: August 24th 2013
Reviewer: Simon Bray
Score:  
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2606
Language: english
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| » SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews: |
Benesser: The Start Of Something New
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2013-08-23 19:03:25
My Score:
There's a certain irony in calling your album The Start Of Something New before going on to fill it with songs which immediately remind of other more established bands. To be fair, originality has long been as scarce as hen's teeth in music circles, but as blatant a Muse fixation as Benesser have you'll struggle to find and when that band spend much of their time updating a sound popularised by Queen many times over, something new this most definitely is not. To be fair to this young outfit there are other aspects in play here, with a more Progressive Metal slant coming to the fore early on, while commercial ideas are also hinted at through a touch of Radiohead.
That said none of those reference points are exactly bad and so The Start Of Something New is in the end a decent slab of introspective rock/metal which entertains while it is playing, although failing to really live long in the memory. Why Muse "works" in a way that most who attempt this style fail (and why Queen did too for that matter), is the overriding self confidence in their own OTT abilities, and it is the lack of this chest puffing strut that provides the main reason why Benesser sound like followers and not leaders. "Where Silence Prevails" kicks things off in hugely energetic style, riff bristling, percussion insisting, making for an enthralling introduction and one which the more commercially tom pounding "Babyface" follows up on well, if not quite so eye catchingly.
However from there little new is put in the melting pot, other than to dilute the potency initially built up. "Is It You" simply meanders throughout its entire seven minute plus duration and "Sleepless Nights" repeats the formula, resulting in a song that would provide the antidote to any restless night. "Colors" however decides to dart and swoop across a scything burst of guitars and head-exploding bursts of snare drum, allowing soothing vocals and restrained guitar to show that when Benesser want to mix it up, their slower paced sections have much more meaning and purpose than when simply left to flail about aimlessly.
Early days for Benesser and there's undoubtedly a huge amount of promise shown here that hints at far greater things to come from them. Deciding what, rather than who they want to sound like and then infusing it with a hefty kick up the jacksy would be a good next step.
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Benesser: The Start Of Something New
Posted by Ian Johnson on 2013-07-05 04:29:03
My Score:
Wow! One and a half stars only. Isn't it wonderful how we all hear things in different ways because I have to totally disagree with your review. This album spoke to me on many levels and I haven't missed playing it at least once a day since it arrived. Why do I like it so much? Who can say it's a personal thing but something about the way the songs and melodies come across hit me and have stayed with me ever since. As we all know opinions are like a**eholes everyone has one and your opinion is as valid as mine.
So I urge fellow readers of SOT to give this a listen so they can make up their own mind about the band called Benesser. For me ***** stars.
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