IZZ - Crush Of Night (2012)

Artista: IZZ
Álbum: Crush Of Night
Año: 2012
Género: Rock sinfónico ecléctico
Duración: 54:45
Nacionalidad: EEUU

Lista de Temas:
1. You've Got A Time
2. Words and Miracles
3. Solid Ground
4. Half the Way
5. This Reality
6. The Crush of Night
7. Almost Over

Alineación:
- Tom Galgano / keyboards, vocals
- Paul Bremner / electric & acoustic guitars
- Brian Coralian / electronic & acoustic drums, percussion
- Greg DiMiceli / acoustic drums, percussion
- John Galgano / bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Anmarie Byrnes / vocals
Guest musicians:
Gary Green / guitars and backing vocals (2 & 4)
Greg Meade / guitar solo (7)

Ya he presentado a esta buena banda en su primer trabajo, ahora la presento en su último (recién salido) disco, que ya se ha ganado el respeto de críticos y melómanos de todo el mundo. Siguiendo con su estilo sinfñonico melódico pero ecléctico (quizás no tanto como en sus primeros discos) e influeciada por bandas clásicas usuales, las sinfónicas que vab desde Yes hasta Gentle Giant, o las más fusionadas como King Crimson, o el rock a lo The Beatles pero también con un sonido moderno que busca preservar el gran espíritu de los 70s pero con una renovación de aire, gozando de un sonido fresco y temas ejecutados con renovados aires en la escena progresiva. Podemos decir que esta es una de las bandas que llegaron para revitalizar y modernizar el sonido progresivo pero sin que por ello pierda su magia y su escencia.
Este es lo que me comentaba mi amigo Hosty (50Hostage) sobre el álbum:

Lo mejor que puedo decir de este disco, es que no me canso de escucharlo, una y otra vez, y en cada nueva escucha más lo disfruto. Un sinfónico moderno, diferente. Instrumentos claros, voces excelentes. Con cierto grado de complejidad, pero a la vez sencillo y estimulante. Otro disco a valorar como mejor del 2012.

50hostage

No es para despreciar que la destacada DPRP le haya destacado con un estupendo review (que copiamos es este post) y además dándole un puntaje de 10/10 ¿hace falta darle mejor recomendación?.
Bueno, el álbum es definido con las mejores críticas allí donde aparece un review, no creo que tengan ganas de perdérselo... Acá van algunos comentarios que encontre por allí:

"Crush of Night" se presenta como la segunda parte de tres de una serie de álbumes temáticos comenzada con "The Darkened Room" en 2009 y ofreciendo el característico sentido melódico de IZZ como el sonido primordial del disco, mientras que al mismo tiempo fusiona las emociones de gran impacto con las que los fans del grupo se han sabido identificar (1). Y es que al paso de los años, con paciencia y paso firme, IZZ ha mejorado en cada nueva realización que ofrece, manteniendo el gancho comercial que jala a más y más adeptos cada vez, pero además sabiendo demostrar su gran valía en los circuitos progresivos con su saber tocar un buen estilo sinfónico, con el respeto y los modales requeridos para recordar la época de gloria del género, pero también con la originalidad suficiente para erigirse como una banda de características propias que no tiene por qué copiarle nada a nadie. Acaso ciertos timbres típicos creados por primera vez por clásicos del género son retomados como parte del respeto hacia las formas ortodoxas, la banda suena original de todas formas. Me parece que IZZ se está ganando su lugar como uno de los principales exponentes del rock progresivo moderno, siendo tiempo de ir dejando que los dinosaurios del estilo vayan extinguiéndose de una vez y para siempre, tatuando su inmortalidad sonora en la memoria de quien hace y quien disfruta de este rock formal en toda su expresión.
IZZ es un gran grupo y hay que estar al tanto de ellos. Mientras tanto y por su buena calidad y su excelente oferta musical, postulo el álbum como Mejor Álbum Extranjero del 2012 y que el jurado de los ProgAwards, los que participen en el foro de los mismos, más tu opinión y voto en Manticornio, decidamos si este álbum se hará de la mención o no.

Manticornio

I'm reviewing from an iTunes purchase, although the physical CD is available from a number of very fine retailers - details are on the band's website. I'll be getting the physical CD but, as you might have gathered, I'm a fan so had to have the album just when I wanted it and these here download things cater to my insatiable desire for immediacy. Intimacy, now that's another thing altogether but I have espoused my love for this band at various times, and at several locations on this 'umble website. It was through the DPRP that I first heard of this band, in fact, over ten years ago.
And my first ever review was of their previous album The Darkened Room. I followed this up, last year, with a word or two about their live DVD, cleverly titled Izz – Live.
Everything we've ever reviewed by Izz has received a recommended rating, going back to 1998. Dave Sissons has said, in respect of the 2007 live release Live At Nearfest: “IZZ are one of the best modern American symphonic progressive rock bands to emerge in (relatively) recent years, and should be considered alongside Echolyn, Glass Hammer and Spock's Beard as being at the fore-front of the genre”. And I'm not going to disagree with him
This new record is the second part of a three album series that began with The Darkened Room and features a guest appearance by Gary Green of Gentle Giant on Words And Miracles and The Crush Of Night. Green contributed to the writing, added a few wonderful solos and sang backing vocals on Words And Miracles.
Now, I gave 10 out of 10 to The Darkened Room, considering it back in 2009 a benchmark for American symphonic progressive rock. But in hindsight if there was something that album lacked it was a truly ‘epic' piece. I still stand by the rating, but now we have the eponymous suite, clocking in at 26 minutes and divided into two tracks, This Reality and The Crush Of Night. Lyrically, these songs consider the struggle that surrounds our search for meaning. Musically they encapsulate why this band is, to my mind, one of the very best progressive rock bands I've ever heard. Ever.
I bang on about how such a lot of 'progressive' rock music sounds derivative. Cynically sounding like 'popular' modern bands so as to somehow become popular symbiotically. In fact I saw this in a review the other day: “Sounding like Pineapple Thief and Porcupine Tree this album is well worth a listen”. Now, call me an old fuddy duddy but if you want to listen to some Pineapple Tree then go out and buy some bloody Pineapple Tree. Or Porcupine Theater. Or Dream Pineapple. And, as a musician, if all you can muster are some tunes that sound like said bands then maybe consider a career in a call centre. And also consider that just because some journo who wants to get inside your kecks calls your band the 'next big thing' then you might not in fact be said next best thing. He wants to get inside your kecks, remember. And because he looks like a warmed up turd wearing a hat he has to 'interview' you and take you out for (a lot of) drinks to stand the remotest chance of even some over the jumper action. So the next time you see some piece on a new 'flavour of the month' female fronted prog band remember that it is very likely that the person writing it wants to have intercourse with someone.
I, on the other hand do not. Well, not this exact second anyway. Izz sound like Izz. The vocal harmonies; the contrasting vocal styles of Anmarie Byrnes and Tom Galgano, as well as the latter's fine keyboard work; the use of two drummers (Brian Coralian and Greg Dimiceli) utilising electronic and acoustic drums; Paul Bremner' s wonderfully fluid guitar playing and John Galgano's big bass sound. These all combine seamlessly to create a sound that is unique in modern progressive rock music.
The album is mixed by Grammy nominated engineer John Shyloski and as always with an Izz release the artwork and booklet are of the highest quality.
So, to the tracks.
You've Got A Time.

Don't you know you have the power to make it all equate
Forget about the wonder forget about your fate
Turn it on start again no need to wonder my friend

Trademark vocal harmonies, propelled along by some fine piano work, set the stage for Bremner to let rip with scorching little guitar runs.

Words And Miracles

You want
To talk to me
To let me see
The way
For all
Your promises
I bet you've lost
Your faith
In fate

The guest player's guitar work takes centre stage, obviously, but hats off to the always impressive rhythm section, who give Green a rock solid bottom end on top of which he can let rip. Synth and meaty Hammond prepare the way for the acoustic mid section before more down and dirty rocking returns to propel the song home.

Solid Ground

The sky seems so far away

Bremner's guitar playing will have the hairs on the back of your neck rising up. It's that good. And in the progressive rock dictionary entry for 'how to do male/female vocal harmonies' it says, merely, listen to this.

Half the Way
How could I falter?
How could I fall?
Though I'd remember I would not call

Achingly sad, the song showcases Tom Galgano's fine voice and piano for a large part of its running time. Before he lets rip with a stunning synth solo. Bremner joins him towards the end, with some perfectly anguished guitar playing leaving just the piano to close out the track.

Crush Of Night

I. This Reality
Open the book
All the words
They collide at our sight
Answers revealing more questions
Concealing the light
II. The Crush Of Night
And though it's true
That love can make things clearer
Disguised at night it crushed my mind

This is a biggie. Distilling everything that is good about Izz into twenty-six minutes. I know there are some mighty fine releases to come this year from some big names, and there have already been a few so far but this should be on your track of the year list. Second part of the suite, The Crush Of Night, is the best 13 minutes of music I've heard in quite some time. It's anthemic, symphonic progressive rock music of the very highest order. With the best keyboard playing you'll hear all year. Modern progressive rock music, respectful of the past, and with nods to the classics – Genesis, ELP, Yes and so on – but doing things within the genre that no one else is doing. Six people who gel completely, each person's playing showcasing the work of the others. I honestly believe this record is better than The Darkened Room – it flows (and hangs together) better, and the production really gives the different sounds and textures room to breathe – and as you know I gave that one a 10. Now, giving a 10 causes a great many amongst the prognoscenti to gnash their teeth, and endlessly debate ratings and whatnot. When what they should in fact be doing is getting out more. What to do, what to do?

Almost Over

Just give me a chance to know
Just lend me a hand to help
The ride is long
It's almost over now

And so the album ends in a flurry of rocking guitar. After the wonder of what came before, this song was always going to be somewhat of an anti-climax. And so it is. On any other record it would be a standout track.

As part two of a three-album cycle Crush Of Night continues on from where The Darkened Room left off. Izz continue to set the benchmark for American progressive rock music, against which everything else from the continent must be measured. I recommend it unreservedly. And as such there's only one rating I can give it.
Conclusion: 10 out of 10

DPRP

It always seems unfair when progressive-rock haters toss out the word pretentious as a catchall way to denounce the genre. Fact is, prog only works when the listener is utterly convinced of the sincerity of the players’ devotion to musical adventure. Say what you want about Selling England by the Pound or Tarkus, but the members of Genesis and ELP (respectively) were deep into the exploded rock arrangements, mythical subject matter, and cinematic soundscapes that the form provided—at least before those bands lost their way (ELP) or found a new one (Genesis).
These examples are used intentionally here: Rather than the metallic aggressiveness of latter-day prog icons like, say, Dream Theater or Mudvayne, New York’s IZZ recalls the more gentile, romantic, and lush vibe of early British art rock. In fact, Gary Green, guitarist with Gentle Giant—an old-school progressive band whose proclivity for complex yet highly musical melodies (and harmonies!) IZZ shares—appears as a guest here on “Words and Miracles” and on the title track.
And IZZ certainly comes across as long-term classic-prog loyalists—epic track lengths, Rick Wakeman–esque keyboard solos, and all. But don’t let that make you think the band is strictly living in the past. “You’ve Got a Time” and “This Reality” contain some nearly clubby keyboard sounds, and the tandem-drummer lineup features one player (GREG DIMICELI) on acoustics and another (BRIAN CORALIAN) who incorporates electronics. They’re pretty subtle in practice, though, and that restraint can be felt throughout the album. Rather than engaging in manly percussive battles, the duo would rather focus on cool moments like the hard-panned back-and-forth snare volley on the title track or the textural intro of “Solid Ground.” As with any good progressive rock, repeated listens reveal a sophisticated, well-thought-out approach to how the drums fit within the tracks’ rhythmic matrices, and the lack of overwrought solos keeps attention firmly on the songs—as it should be, even if those songs are thirteen minutes long. (Doone Records)

Adam Budofsky

I think everyone has certain bands that they put at the top of their “can’t wait for the new CD” list. For me one of those band’s is New York based IZZ. And here they are with part two of a trilogy-storyline, this one entitled Crush of Night. The eagerly anticipated follow-up to 2009’s The Darkened Room, it’s also the band’s seventh disc. IZZ consists of Tom Galgano (keyboards, vocals), Paul Bremner (guitars), Brian Coralian (electronic & acoustic drums, percussion), Greg DiMiceli (drums, percussion), John Galgano (bass, acoustic guitar, vocals) and Anmarie Byrnes (vocals). There are two guest musicians this time around including Gentle Giant’s Gary Green who provides guitars and backing vocals on two tracks and Greg Meade who lends his guitar work on another track. Fans of IZZ will know what to expect from the group and they sure don’t disappoint.
Crush of Night features seven tracks, two of which are the second part of the trilogy. These two tracks; “This Reality” [13:32] and “The Crush of Night” [13:18] are over 26-minutes. Track one “You’ve Got a Time” [4:09] is the shortest on the CD but it features all the elements IZZ fans have come to know and love. After an almost a cappella opening the vocal harmonies; minor notes mixed with major, cascade mixing Beatlesque pop/rock sensibilities with just a touch of angular symphonic prog. It’s always tricky describing music like this because it’s so full of musical change-ups, even in a short track like this. The music and vocal arrangements are always interesting. Everything seems so right. The guitars come in for a brief solo here and then the keyboards drift in taking over the lead line while a vocal solo steps in. That stops only to be replaced by complex vocal harmonies. Then it’s all change and the tune goes in a completely different direction. It’s a description that could apply to any number of tracks on the disc. In terms of a general vibe I get a sense that this being the second of three parts, like any trilogy it’s darker and more intense. The music combined with the cover shot of crashing waves and dark skies convey a somewhat more ominous tone.
The wait is over and IZZ fans will I’m sure be adding this disc to their collections. If you are still one of those who’ve not had a chance to get acquainted with the band, what are you waiting for? IZZ are one of the best symphonic prog bands around today. They also have one of the most unique vocal sounds both solo and harmonies. And they’re getting better with each release. Crush of Night is a great follow-up to The Darkened Room and it’s a natural add to any prog collection. Highly recommended.

Jerry Lucky

Often times, progressive rock bands focus more on virtuosity than songwriting, as well as emulation instead of originality. Fortunately, despite a slight lack of variation, IZZ challenges the stereotypes. Their newest release, Crush of Night, pummels the listener with assured direction, beautiful harmonies, and playing that's simultaneously complex and melodic. In addition, its wonderful sense of thematic cohesion makes the whole (as the saying goes) worth more than the sum of its parts.
The brainchild of brothers Tom and John Galgano, IZZ also consists of percussionists Greg DiMiceli and Brian Coralian, guitarist Paul Bremner, and vocalist Anmarie Byrnes. Crush of Night is the second chapter in a planned trilogy that began with 2009's The Darkened Room. Like its predecessor, the album continues the "exploration of one's journey of self-knowledge, doubt and ultimately the search for meaning." With similarities to Circa, Vangough, Riverside, and Dream Theater, Crush of Night features immaculate production, wonderful melodies, and captivatingly accessible yet technical music. Also, prog rock legend Gary Green (Gentle Giant) guests on a couple tracks, which helps give the album even more flair and IZZ some added respect.
The greatness of Crush of Night lies in how well it combines its elements. From the moment opener "You've Got a Time" begins, it's obvious that the Galgano's voices blend marvelously. Their vocal syntheses and trade-offs are a constant highlight of the record, as is the way they constantly incorporate appealing melodies. Musically, dynamics is a big factor; intricate guitar riffs, percussion, and keyboard passages combine intensely before melting away into pure atmosphere, allowing the songwriting to take center stage. While all the tracks are fantastic, the two thirteen minute pieces, "This Reality" and "The Crush of Night," are clear standouts due to their more elaborate structures.
Crush of Night is a thoroughly absorbing album. While it's not as diverse as it could be, IZZ is definitely a cut about many of its competition in terms of original vision and successful execution. Sure, some influences are apparent and some sounds are familiar, but for the most part, the group declares its own identity thanks to their unique arrangements. Overall, it's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre, and its sleeper hit quality makes it more special to anyone who's lucky enough to discover it.

Jordan Blum

'Crush Of Night' is announced to be the second part of a trilogy which has been started with 'The Darkened Room' in 2009. So first of all - this obviously is not the end of the story, good to know. New York based IZZ where founded by the Galgano brothers Tom and John nearly 15 years ago, and since then they are an absolute guarantee when it comes to catchy retro styled prog rock music with symphonic touches. For me a big trademark is that - often outfitted with female suppport - voices and instruments perfectly match..And this points to the fact that Anmarie Byrnes is aboard once more, immediately to notice when the first song starts with disitnctive vocal harmonies.
Words And Miracles features a guest appearance of Gentle Giant's guitarist Gary Green - a guitar dominated tune with great dynamics but also a semi-acoustic part by way of variation. Solid Ground convinces me completely due to the catchy main melody and wonderful polyphonic vocals. The balladesque Half The Way comes with sparkling piano leading into the album's 26-minute centerpiece, represented by two immediately consecutive and extended songs. The solemn This Reality with proper symphonic fundament and then the epic title song showcasing several twists and turns. First this reminds me of german band RPWL a bit. Some sweet melodies follow, finally even jamming approach inclusive of guitar solos and synth excursions backed by a groovy background - the song-writing abilities are simply great here!
No filler to discover! With 'Crush Of Night' the band has delivered an excellent workout again in 2012 - definitely something to enjoy. Strong musicianship all the way through. I wouldn't say this is significantly differing from previous efforts, except an improved accessibility of the compositions maybe. As for that not really spectacular, one or two may say - however the songs certainly prove mature, can convince me absolutely. So I'm sure this one will be an excellent addition to every well-sorted prog music collection.

Uwe Zickel

Seguramente, uno de los mejores álbums que salen en este gran 2012, ahora tienen oportunidad de escucharlo, y no lo duden que ya ven que los links se pierden y desaparecen y no tenemos mucho ánimo de andar resubiendo los álbums que ya publicamos.

www.izznet.com
www.facebook.com/izzmusic

Y algunos temas de ejemplos:
soundcloud.com/izzmusic