Light Damage: Light Damage

The best part about being a music reviewer is hearing bands you would likely never hear and being exposed to a wide variety of music. My latest discovery is the progressive rock band Light Damage, hailing from the small country of Luxembourg. The band formed in 2005, starting out as a Genesis/Pink Floyd cover band. They produced a demo a few years back and finally released their self-titled debut in 2014.

Like most bands there have been some lines up changes since their inception and currently the five piece consists of Frédérik Hardy (bass guitar, backing vocals, bass pedal), Nicholas-John (lead vocals, guitar, e-bow), Sébastien Pérignon (keyboards, percussion, tubular bells), Stephane Lecocq (lead guitars) and Thibaut Grappin (drums, percussion).

You can clearly hear the band's earlier influences of Floyd and Genesis in their heavy brand of symphonic/neo prog. The album's theme is one of loss and sadness and how the main character deals with this tragedy. The music is suitably melancholic but it is not all doom and gloom as there are moments of brightness to be found.

The album begins with the melancholic "Eden". Rumbling sound effects of rain and the sounds of the city starts the listener on a nine minute trek through sad piano lines, melodic guitar leads and delightful keyboard sounds. The lead vocals are a huge plus as Nicholas-John has one of the better voices I have heard in recent memory. The music builds in intensity and eases back into gentler soundscapes with fluidic ease.

"Empty" is another excellent track where sadness pervades at the start with melancholic guitar tones and emotive lead vocals before developing into a heavy progressive rock tune. No one style is too dominant though as the band does a great job at mixing in softer elements and motifs. Generating mood and atmosphere is something they do very well and can be heard again on the stellar "The Supper Of Cyprianus", the second track over nine minutes in length. Swirling piano and an overall feel of gentleness builds into something much heavier. Here they reminded me a little of the great German band Everon, especially the lead vocals. "Heaven" is another multifaceted track winding through delicate guitar work to heavy staccato rhythms and symphonic builds. "F.H.B. (For Helpful Buddies)" is a much more peaceful offering featuring emotive guitar work while the album ending "Touched" offers a bit of optimism as the music builds into a dense, orchestral tour d force.

Light Damage has made an excellent debut album of heavy progressive rock that is both highly melodic and aurally stunning. I think many prog fans will agree, Light Damage is a band to watch out for in the coming years. Highly recommended!

Track Listing:
1. Eden (9:39)
2. Empty (6:08)
3. The Supper Of Cyprianus (9:08)
4. Heaven (6:32)
5. F.H.B. (For Helpful Buddies) (2:36)
6. Touched (6:32)

Added: February 12th 2015
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 2322
Language: english

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