The Aurora Project - Shadow Border (2009)

Artista: The Aurora Project
Álbum: Shadow Border
Año: 2009
Género: Heavy progresivo
Duración: 54:32
Nacionalidad: Holanda

Lista de Temas:
1. Human Gateway
2. The Trial
3. Photonic Reunion
4. The Confession
5. Another Dream
6. Within the Realms
7. Shadow Border

Alineación:
- Dennis Binnekade / Vocals
- Remco van den Berg / Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Marc Vooys / Guitars
- Rob Krijgsman / Bass guitar
- Joris Bol / Drums
- Marcel Guyt / Synths & Samples

Vuelvo con algunos de los álbums internacionales que más me gustan... hace rato no posteaba nada de esto.
Trataré de resumir, tengo poco tiempo, el grupo suena en base a un metal progresivo muy melódico, con marcadas influencias de grupos como Riverside, Pain of Salvation o Ayreon. Además de los ya mencionados, desde las referencias que brindan sus espacios en Internet.(http://www.theauroraproject.com) nos encontramos con Pink Floyd, Genesis, Rush, Porcupine Tree, Oceansize, Pallas, Arena, Klaus Schulz, Dream Theater, Tool, Radiohead, Massive Attack, Portishead, Godspeed you Black Emperor, The Gathering... así de variaditos vienen los muchachos.

O sea, acá hay algo más que el típico álbum de metal progresivo: no hay demasiadas guitarras machacantes ni rápidas, o despliegue de virtuosismo. Yo diría que el grupo trata en todo momento de mantenerse lo más alejado posible del típico sonido heavy metal, y lo consigue. Y la diferencia no va a estar visible en el aspecto técnico ni en la complejidad de las composiciones, sino en el gran cuidado melódico que se le nota al álbum, desde el comienzo hasta el final, imprimiendo un gran dramatismo y variadas sensaciones que están más cercanas a los climas de Pink Floyd o el lejano Genesis que a otra cosa. Un álbum que habla de temas como la trascendencia, la muerte, vistos no desde el lúgubre y macabro punto de vista al que generalmente estamos acostumbrados, más si se trata de un grupo de metal, sino desde un sentido más emotivo (y positivo).
Convengamos, no es brutalmente excelente, pero brinda esa sutil calidad y emotividad que podemos encontrar en, por ejemplo, el "Posthumous Silence" de Sylvan (otro álbum que tengo que traer a este espacio).

Pueden ver, en el próximo video, a The Aurora Project en vivo, en Holanda, en el año 2006, cuando presentaban su primer trabajo llamado "Unspocken Words":

Para mí este, el segundo álbum de este grupo, no sólo es un gran álbum, sino quizás uno de los mejores que se hayan publicado en el 2009, y no por elementos que generalmente destaco entre aquellos considerados buenos álbums progresivos, sino porque cuando me dispongo a escucharlo, lo disfruto mucho y paso un momento muy entretenido.
Los tipos se toman su tiempo para lanzar cada nuevo álbum (hace poco sacaron su tercer trabajo, que no tuve el gusto de escuchar), y si bien este es recién su segundo disco, estamos hablando de una banda con un Curriculum Vitae bien interesnate, ya que compartieron escenario con bandas como Riverside, Pain of Salvation y Vanden Plas

Only three ratings (of which one review) and an average of 3,17. No wonder this album (and band) doesn't get the attention it deserves. I have been waiting for this successor anxiously for several years because I got intrigued after their very fine debut and an impressive gig at Symforce in 2007. Shadow Border is an excellent follow up of the near excellent debut and I wil explain why.
Unspoken Words was already great at its best moments but this album contained too many spoken passages (interludes without music) and was diminished somewhat because of those. What I already liked then and like even much more on this successor is the performances of both an excellent guitarist (Remco van den Berg) and maybe even more impressive vocalist (Dennis Binnekade) and that's a surprise coming from me because I usually don't care to much for the vocal department. But Dennis creates the sound for this high quality band and it's a shame really that so few people take the chance to check them out. In this way Shadow Border becomes a hidden gem, hail to the hidden gem but I think Aurora Project would like to see their efforts get rewarded a bit more.
I sure do because I want justice and justice is only done when this album gets 100+ ratings on this site and a (very) high average. So come on. prog metal fans: what are you waiting for ? Quit this boycott and check it out and as I always say: if you don't it's your loss. Aurora Project plays ambient and high class prog metal that in style and quality comes close to Riverside. Okay, maybe they are not quite on that huge level yet but to be compared to this great Polish band is already a big compliment I would think. 4,25 stars for Shadow Border.

Henk van der Hoff

THE AURORA PROJECT are from The Netherlands and have been making music for about 10 years now,this is their second studio record. I must admit i was really surprised to see them listed under Prog-Metal after spending a few days with this record as i thought this was more like Heavy-Prog or Heavy-Neo. ARENA came to mind quite often. Mind you i haven't heard the debut which may be more in the Metal style. Anyway this is a good album that i'm sure will be rated fairly highly on this site. The vocals are good but not great and they have an accent, while the music contrasts the heavy and lighter passages constantly.
"Human Gateway" sounds so good to open as the sound builds until it kicks in heavily after a minute. Unfortunately it settles and vocals come in. Heavier again after 3 1/2 minutes and some blistering guitar to end it. "The Trial" opens with synths and heaviness. Vocals before a minute. It settles then kicks back in. "Photonic Reunion" opens with waves of synths as reserved vocals join in. It gets heavier a minute in but then lighter a minute later. Themes are repeated.
"The Confession" is heavy to open but settles when the vocals come in. Contrasts continue. Nice guitar after 3 1/2 minutes. "Another Dream" is mellow with synths as reserved vocals join in. It's fuller sounding before 2 minutes. These odd spoken words come and go. "Within The Reality" is heavy to open but settles quickly(i know i'm like a broken record) as reserved vocals come in. Spoken words before 4 minutes and later to end it. "Shadow Border" is the almost 16 1/2 minute closer. More of those contrasts throughout although it gets really heavy duty 11 minutes in.
I would have liked this a lot more if the lighter passages were removed with the vocals. Still a good album

John Davie

Though Dutch band The Aurora Project have been around for 10 years now, Shadow Border is only their second release, but make no mistake about it, this latest CD sounds very much like a hungry band out to make a statement. Part dark progressive rock, with a healthy dose of progressive metal, Shadow Border contains roughly 55 minutes of compelling music that will take a few listens to fully digest, but once you do the many nuances of what the band have woven together all begin to make sense.
These guys like to patch together lots of different moods and textures in their songs, easily heard on the two excellent opening cuts "Human Gateway" and "The Trial", as extended passages of atmospheric keyboards and dreamy vocals often give way to crushing guitar bombast and pounding drum fills. At times you'll hear bits of Pink Floyd, IQ, Porcupine Tree, or Riverside, but they are fleeting, as The Aurora Project more use the influence from these bands as a way to shape their own vision. Lead singer Dennis Binnekade has a very melodic and passionate delivery, and though you can detect plenty of accent, his English is still easily understood. He's in full command on the almost Marillion-ish "Photonic Reunion", supported by some bouncy synths courtesy of Marcel Guyt and lots of heavy riffs from the team of Remco van den Berg & Marc Vooys. For those that like heavier material, the almost doomy "The Confession" is a real massive piece, dark atmosphere meshing with bone crunching riffs, tasty lead solos, and spacey keyboards. For another twist, there's also the futuristic "Within the Realms", probably the closest this band comes to Porcupine Tree or Riverside here, and the CD closes with the 16-minute epic title track, a real dramatic journey for the listener. Equal parts metal and prog abound on this gem, the band taking you down numerous dark passageways, with a different surprise at every corner.
In an era where many progressive metal bands love to show you just how masterful they can play their instruments (not that we complain about that), The Aurora Project want to make their music stand out by employing space, textures, colors, and emotion in many different ways. Sure, there's no shortage of impressive instrumentation here on Shadow Border, but the moods created by marrying heavy riffs with atmosphere, haunting melodies, and dark soundscapes works wonders throughout this very enjoyable CD. Once again, The Lasers Edge scores a winner-seek this one out people!

Pete Pardo

Second album by The Aurora Project dating from 2009. The record holds seven tracks, including the 17-minute epic title track. Shadow Border is meant as a no-nonsense progressive rock album. No storytellers or choirs this time. Instead some firm guitar playing, solid rhythm section and breathtaking vocals! The classic progrock songs on this album stay true to the jams they originated from which gives this album really great transparency and a natural feel!”
Joost van den Broek, famous for his work for Ayreon and After Forever, signed for the recording and mixing credits. The album is recorded in the famous Dutch Excess studio (Epica, Gorefest) and the album is mastered by the legendary Bob Katz who received several Grammy’s for his work in the past.

Freia-Music

The second album of Dutch prog rockers The Aurora Project is - just like their debut - a concept album. Joost van den Broek, well known for his work with Ayreon and After Forever, produced and mixed the CD. No one less than the eminent sound engineer and Grammy Award winner Bob Katz did the mastering.
Shadow Border is one of the best no-nonsense progressive rock albums I have heard for a long time. Especially the title track is so brilliant that it is hard to believe that these guys hail from The Netherlands! Just listen to the amazing musical intro of the long epic title track Shadow Border and there’s only one thing you want: hear all of it. The diversity in this epic is just phenomenal. Above all guitar pickers Remco van den Berg and Marc Vooys really shine on that song with amazing guitar melodies, solos and riffs. Another musical highlight is Human Gateway, a prog metal beauty with the stunning vocals of Dennis Binnekade. The song reminded me of Riverside. You can enjoy the best guitar solo of the entire album in the rather dark and quiet song Within The Realms. In fact, all the songs are highlights, so it would be better to stop reviewing this album and ask you, as the reader of this review, to run to your music store and buy this album immediately. Shadow Border will definitely flaunt in my prog rock top-10 albums of 2009!

Martien Koolen (edited by Peter Willemsen)

The Aurora Project return after an almost 3 year gap with their second album, Shadow Border on a brand new label, Laser’s Edge since DVS folded a few years back. The line-up remains the same with Dennis Binnekade (vocals), who at times remind me mostly of Riverside‘s Mariusz Duda, since they both sing with a heartbreaking passion. Joining Dennis are Remco van der Berg & Marc Vooys (guitars), Marcel Guyt (keyboards), Rob Krijsgman (bass) and Joris Bol (drums).
From the amazing opening track “Human Gateway“ to the closing self titled epic, you know the band is back and in top form. I found the entire album to be very enjoyable and can’t seem to get it out of rotation on my stereo. It has a somewhat spiritual vibe which deals in universal harmonic balance. This is more bearable to hear than being preached to like some artists feel they must resort to, to tell a good story.
If you enjoy the output of bands like Riverside, Tool, Indukti, Pink Floyd and Anathema, to name a few, then you must get this album. I feel it defies being lumped in as a progressive metal band because there’s so much more going on than in that almost suffocating stale genre . This album gets my highest recommendation and a secure place in my top favorite releases of 2009.

Ron Fuchs

Un álbum inteligente aunque libre de muchos ornamentos, muy buen trabajo e la voz llevando los desarrollos dramáticos de la música a la perfección, base sólida, muy buen trabajo de los teclados (al mando de un viejo y experimentado músico que ha tocado en Ayreon, entre otros proyectos), los músicos ofrecen un bien equilibrado álbum
Nada más me queda recomendarles el álbum, aunque no sean amantes de este sub-género, aunque desde aquí podrán tener un adelanto del mismo:

www.theauroraproject.com
www.myspace.com/auroraproject

Y pueden eescuchar el álbum desde Bandcamp (aunque no está disponible de manera gratuita) antes de descargarlo...