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Autumn Rest

Poems From the Fire

Review by Gary Hill

Autumn Rest is Chad Belteau, Kevin Belteau, and Joey Landry. This release combines very diverse elements, being the first release that I have heard that mixes progressive rock themes with the stylings of such performers as Nine Inch Nails. This album is certainly not for every progressive rock fan, but for the more adventurous, (who are looking for something new), it should be a pleasant change of pace. The production on this album is a bit weak, but it is still certainly worth a listen.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: The Early Years Volume 3 at garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-The-Early-Years.

Track by Track Review
Sculpture
A techno sort of rhythm section blended with guitars and vocals somewhat in the style of Nine Inch Nails comprise this track.
It Begins
This piece is very dark and is composed of some dissonant and disquieting keyboard work, and an almost death metal toned spoken word section. Interspersed on the track are sound effects of shouting, etc.
Translated Bible
Segueing directly out of It Begins, Translated Bible is another track which contains the Nine Inch Nails elements, but in many ways is a rather accessible piece of music. The percussion work on this one is quite interestingly arranged. The break is an extremely dark and dissonant instrumental section.
Protector
The first track which contains progressive rock elements, the intro here is somewhat in the vein of a darker, progressive treatment of the Dead Or Alive track You Spin Me Round. The verse takes on elements of the Buggles and some more intricate progressive rock stylings while still retaining many of the elements of the introduction. This one contains a nice hook and some fairly quirky arrangements, at times almost feeling like the Anti-Yes (meaning a somber sort of Yesish approach). This is quite a nice track and features a nicely abrupt ending.
Plastic Girl
This track is definitely in a progressive rock vein, although again featuring a rather dark texture. This is also quite a strong piece, and contains some considerably intriguing arrangements.
Dusk
Dusk, while still maintaining a bit of that dark texture present on the rest of the tracks, really feels like a nicely triumphant progressive metal ballad. The arrangement here certainly steals the show and this is probably the strongest track on the album.
Different Tomorrows
A wonderfully twisted keyboard line sets the theme here. Once the rest of the instruments join in, the piece takes on the textures of a strong Progressive Metal track, and features some extremely quirky changes.
Foolish Wisdom
A considerably gloomy keyboard texture and traces of rather Gregorian vocals, lead this track off. As the other instruments join in, it takes on a very unique sort of arrangement. The vocals on this track are some of the strongest on the album, and the piece contains some very fascinating twists and turns. This composition contains several distinct sections; some of which feature some very progressive sort of work, while others focus more heavily on the somber metallic/alternative sort of feel. In general, however, the central focus here is a dark progressive rock tune.
Scarlet Letter
An extremely brief (less than a minute long) sound effects piece, Scarlet Letter features a dark texture.
Cekebant Nation
The most prevalent influences on this track seem to be Nine Inch Nails, Black Sabbath and White Zombie. This is a solid track, although certainly not a stand out on the album.
Winter Rain
Winter Rain features spooky keyboard work and some quite creepy spoken wordvocals. This is another very short piece.
Love Will Kill
This song has a fairly accessible sort of feel, almost techno at times. While it certainly has a dark texture to it, it almost seems light and cheery in comparison to the majority of the other material on this album. Moments here call to mind Depeche Mode.
Sleep No Longer
Beginning with some very pretty piano work, this piece moves on, shifting into a mode which seems to call to mind Dream Theater and UK. The arrangement is quite interesting and portions feature some nicely chunky and metallic guitar work. This piece is another, which seems more accessible than a lot of the other material on the album. There are even some Yesish sort of passages to be found here. At over 9 minutes, this is the longest track on the album.
And the Night
This piece also begins with some elegant piano music. Guitar work with a somewhat modern jazz sort of approach soon enters the song. Once the intro is over, the cut settles into a very pretty and delicate balladic mode. This song contains an infectious hook and strong arrangements.
It Ends
A moody and fairly spooky mood pervades this piece, which is essentially a very brief special effects exercise.
Translated Bible (Remix)
This is basically a grittier version of the earlier track Translated Bible.
 
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