Tolerance - When Time Stops (2013)

Artista: Tolerance

Álbum: When Time Stops
Año: 2013
Género: Metal progresivo
Duración: 52:36
Nacionalidad: Venezuela

Lista de Temas:
01. Lutin
02. When Time Stops
03. Different Skies
04. Drifted
05. Blind Spot
06. Meeting The Path
07. Beware Of The Birds
08. The Greatest Plan

Alineación:
- Ricardo Figueroa / Vocals
- Carlos Cabrices / Guitars
- Rodrigo Nuñez / Drums
- Antonio Ramirez / Keyboards
Additional Musicians
Henry Paul / Bass (2,4,5)
Enrique Perez / Bass (1,3,7)
Pepe Perez Rivero / Bass (6,8)
Valter Izzo / Violin (1,8)
Mariangela Travieso / Cello (1)

Empezamos la semana bien Pum! para arriba!, con todo el excelente metal progresivo de esta banda venezolana (estoy pensando que a los venezolanos, tanto como a los brasileros, les encanta cantar en inglés, porqué será?). El album debut de Tolerance se caracteriza por una contundente sección rímica, poderosos riffs de guitarras, inteligentes arreglos de teclados y sobresalientes voces.
Ya he repetido más de una vez que particularmente no me llama la atención el metal progresivo, mejor dicho el metal, pero hay algunas bandas que logran sacarme de esta opinión debido a su calidad, y esta es una de esas bandas, incluso superando mi natural disposición a escuchar líricas propias del lugar de donde el grupo es originario. Esí que tenemos un gran disco, en inglés aunque sea venezolano, y de metal progresivo, que a pesar de todo eso no puedo dejar de decirles que lo escuchen detenidamente porque lo recomendo enfáticamente.

Buenísimo cuarteto procedente de Venezuela, sorprende la calidad del trabajo compositivo y buena producción de éste su primer trabajo.
Magnífico el comienzo arrollador y lleno de cambios y virtuosismo del tema "Lutin" con influencias claras de Dream Theater y Symphony X. Buenas ideas y melodías evocadoras en la mejor tradición Metal /Prog.
El grupo se formó en 2003 en Caracas, con Rodrigo Núñez (Batería) y Ricardo Figueroa (Voz) como primeros miembros fundadores. Genial el timbre de voz de Ricardo, utilizando texturas que evocan a los mejores momentos de Geoff Tate de la época "Empire" de Queensryche y alguna influencia de James LaBrie, pero siempre manteniendo una personalidad brillante.
Muy bueno el trabajo de Rodrigo Núñez en las baterías, con muy buena métrica progresiva y cambios muy bien estructurados por parte de la banda, lo cual es de agradecer, ya que no siempre se consigue compactar adecuadamente en las armonías y estructuras progresivas.
El nivel de virtuosismo en la fantástica "Diferent Skies" demuestra que no tienen nada que envidiar a ninguna banda anglosajona, ya que llegan al nivel requerido y lo superan a la media en ocasiones a la mayoría de bandas similares.
Gran feeling transmite el tema "Drifted", y en "Blind Spot" sacan a relucir su faceta más Funky / Fusión. En líneas generales un brillante primer trabajo de éste grato descubrimiento de banda llamada Tolerance, a la que auguramos un gran porvenir en sus próximos trabajos.

Cristopher Pérez

Eso, lo dicho, una gran ópera prima de una banda que resulta sumamente disfrutable, "When Time Stops" tiene un sonido de metal progresivo sólido, clásico, aunque con muchos ingredientes latinos que lo hacen muy interesante más allá de que está cantado en inglés, y donde también realizan una mezcla entre hard rock, metal, clásica, funk y electrónica. Altamente recomendado para amantes del género, y para los no tan amantes como yo, incluso.

Tolerance es una banda venezolana fundada en abril de 2003 por Ricardo Figueroa, Rodrigo Núñez y Enmanuel Najul, que, tras varios cambios en su formación desde entonces, ha conseguido, con mucho esfuerzo y profesionalidad, dar crédito a su música con la publicación de este buen trabajo, que mezcla sintonías propias del hard rock, con el rock norteamericano, muy basado en la técnica y el sonido de la guitarra, todo dentro de un enclave progresivo con influencias de la música clásica, sobretodo en sus estructuras, y los sonidos electrónicos, evidentes en el uso que hacen de los maravillosos teclados.
Nos encontramos ante un buen trabajo que podríamos definir, cayendo en el tópico categorizador, como una mezcla de Kansas y, en gran medida, Dream Theater por ese filo de metal progresivo con el que aderezan sus maravillosos temas. Totalmente cantado en inglés, de modo ejemplarmente profesional, las voces nos narran, unas veces casi susurrantes y otras de manera directa, unos temas relacionados con la temática más actual, como puede ser la existencia, la ciencia, la política y el medio ambiente, tal y como postula el grupo con sus propias palabras.
Una contundente sección rítmica, sustentada por un más que poderoso batería, junto al elenco de bajistas colaboradores, sirve de pauta para que el resto desgrane sus músicas, llenas de poderosos riffs de guitarra, inteligentes arreglos para los teclados, y un recorrido musical de grandísima calidad donde hay cabida para todo tipo de ritmos y melodías. Desde momentos más calmados a puntos álgidos donde la banda demuestra todo su buen hacer en estructuras dinámicas, llenas de ritmos, contratiempos y rupturas de ritmo que enriquecen continuamente el estilo de los venezolanos, un grupo muy compacto en el que cada uno de ellos sabe hacer funcionar su papel protagonista de manera esencial, sin olvidarse del resto de los instrumentos, que eclosionan en una música descriptiva de gran sabor progresivo. Excelentes y recomendados. Muchas producciones norteamericanas, anglosajonas y europeas tendrán envidia, no muy sana en algunos casos, cuando escuchen y vean que el listón de Tolerance está en un punto muy alto.

Jose Luis Martínez

Bueno, como verán, la movida latinoamericana del rock progresivo sigue arrojando grandes artistas por donde uno mire. Y en cuanto a esta banda en particular, sus propios integrantes comentan: "When Time Stops es un disco de Rock Progresivo que fusiona hard rock, metal, funk, música académica y electrónica. En términos de composición, nuestro álbum debut surgió espontáneamente. Las influencias de la banda son diversas por lo tanto no se siguieron lineamientos en cuanto a estilos o géneros musicales. Por otra parte, nos enfocamos en realizar canciones con estructuras claras que le permitieran al oyente vivir la experiencia de un viaje musical que pudiera recordar".
Y como no tengo mucho más que decirles salvo recomendarles el disco, les dejo algunos comentarios en inglés por si falta algo para decidirlos.

Tolerance is a Venezuelan band formed on April 2003 by singer Ricardo Figueroa and drummer Rodrigo Nunez. After several line-up changes and ten years of hard work, the group finally records its debut album, "When Time Stops", on the Musea Parallèle label. Here's a blend of hard-rock, funk, heavy-metal, classical music and electronic sounds, full of musicianship defined by overwhelming drumming, powerful guitar riffs, clever keyboards arrangements and remarkable vocals. The lyrics are related to topics such as existence, science, politics and environmental issues. Some of the most important band's influences are Deep Purple, Rush, Steve Vai, Magellan, Planet X, Living Colour and Dream Theater among others. "When Time Stops" was recorded and mixed in Caracas, Venezuela, and mastered in Nashville, Tennessee. Some Venezuelan guest musicians took part of this recording, including three bassists.

I have to confess and say that I don't know that many bands from Venezuela, but apparently these guys have been around for some ten years and have now produced their debut, which has been made available through Musea. I think the only question now is will we have to wait another ten for the next one? I certainly hope not! The band is made up of Ricardo Figueroa (vocals), Carlos Cabrices (guitar), Ricardo Nunez (drums), and Antonio Ramirez (keyboards), (other instruments are provided by guests). Now, musically they come across very much in the realm of Dream Theater, but when one looks a little more deeply at their history possibly that isn't too surprising as they have similar backgrounds, in that the three musicians are all professionally trained. Rodrigo N attended "Ars Nova School of Music", a Berklee oriented school where he got his musical degree, Antonio attended Los Teques Musical Conservatory for two years while Carlos attended Simon Bolivar Musical Conservatory to study classical guitar and then attended I.U.D.E.M, a Venezuelan musical college where he got his musical degree and majored in composition.
Ricardo F needs to be at the very top of his game to cope with this, but he knows how to cut a dashing James LaBrie vocal, with great range and power, and he has no problem hitting the heights that have been set by those around him. But what really makes this really stand out for me is that not only are these guys great performers who can be as complex and complicated as any in the genre, they also know how to write songs that are immediate and controlled. Of the eight songs on offer, only two get to the nine minute long so no drawn out epics here, although they are obviously more than capable of doing them if they wished. They are quite staccato in much of their playing, which gives a real edge to the overall sound, and they are incredibly tight, with everyone really hitting the marks. I was a little surprised to see that they don't have a permanent bassist, as they do allow that instrument to take the main role (there is some beautiful fretless bass on "Beware of the Birds" for example) when the need is there and don't keep it hidden in the background.
Overall this is a stunning debut, and if you enjoy complex prog metal then you can't afford to let this one pass you by.

Kev Rowland

The roots of Tolerance can be traced back to 2003 when Venezuelan vocalist Ricardo Figueroa and drummer Rodrigo Nunez formed a longstanding partnership and desire to put their stamp on the prog/metal genre. It took the pair a full decade of perseverance and personnel changes to bring their vision to fruition, but the end result is “When Time Stops”, an impressive 2013 debut album that could elevate them from obscurity to the pantheon of prog/metal luminaries like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Planet X, Angra, Threshold, Opeth, Fates Warning, Shadow Gallery, Royal Hunt, Enchant, and Rhapsody.
The line-up on “When Time Stops” includes: Ricardo Figueroa (Vocals), Carlos Cabrices (Guitars), Rodrigo Nuñez (Drums), and Antonio Ramirez (Keyboards), plus additional musicians Henry Paul (Bass – tracks 2,4,5), Enrique Perez ( Bass – tracks 1,3,7), Pepe Perez Rivero (Bass – tracks 6,8), Valter Izzo (Violin – tacks 1,8), and Mariangela Travieso (Cello – track 1).
Apparently that ten year span to hone and refine their craft has paid off in spades. “When Time Stops” is a melodic masterpiece of metal mayhem.
Figueroa and Nunez struck gold when they finally settled on a guitarist and keyboardist for Tolerance. The skill-set of Carlos Cabrices and Antonio Ramirez is nothing short of amazing as the virtuoso pair trade off energetic dueling light-speed arpeggios throughout the album. Cabrices and Ramirez are Venezuela's answer to Dream Theater's John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess. And comparisons to Dream Theater does not end there – Ricardo Figueroa's vocal style is quite similar to James LaBrie. He has the range, passion, and power to front a high energy band like Tolerance. And the rhythm section powered by drummer Rodrigo Nuñez propels the music along like a speeding locomotive regardless of who's turn it is on the bass. The guy is a great technical drummer.
The music is a blend of heavy metal, arena rock, a bit of funk, classical music, and progressive rock. While the lyrics cover the spectrum from science and politics to environmental issues. For once – this is not a concept album.
If your musical preference is progressive metal, and any of the above mentioned bands are auto-purchases – than this is an absolute 'must have'.

Joseph Shingler

There I was, bored to death one day, and was contemplating jumping off from…well…from my sofa, because I don’t want to commit suicide yet. The culprit was musical frustration. Why? I wanted something fresh, something new for my ears, and then I stumbled upon a band named Tolerance with their debut album “When Time Stops”. So instead of jumping down from the sofa, I decided to jump inside this album and have a look at who the band are and what they possess.
Tolerance is a Venezuelan band that was formed in 2003 by the current vocalist Ricardo Figueroa and drummer Ricardo Nunez. The band initially experimented with a lot of different lineups and after ten years of wandering around and experimentation, they finally managed to record their debut album “When Time Stops”, a beautiful blend of rock, metal, funk, jazz and electronic sounds. The current lineup of the band has Ricardo Figueroa on vocals, Carlos Cabrices on the guitars, Ricardo Nunez on the drums and Antonio Ramirez on the keyboards. A highlight of this album is collaboration of the band with different musicians from Venezuela including three bassists for different tracks throughout the album. The album was recorded in Caracas, Venezuela and mastered in Nashville, Tennessee.
Enough about the exteriors, now let me give you my impression of the debut album under review…
The album kicks off with a track called Lutin with an interrupted start pattern through few seconds of the intro, but then really kicks in with an eastern feel to it that just straightaway got me up from my seat, realizing that what I am listening to has real potential. Next you will get a vibe similar to something by Dream Theater followed by just perfect vocals by Ricardo Figueroa that fit right into the whole scenario. The overall feel of this band can easily be perceived by this track, they are not your regular straight line travelers, rather they would like to take detours along their journey. The musical notes throughout the track are reminiscent of something you might have heard before but with a lot of eastern elements injected into it just at the right time, and the solo for this track by Carlos Cabrices is melodious down to the bone. You know that moment when you can clearly and easily identify talent, I got that feel instantly and I said to me “this is going to be good”.
The next track, When Time Stops, sounds like something from a rock band that are trying to make a point, and then you can hear the melodious vocals by Ricardo. This track particularly has a very sweet sounding chorus and I think it is mainly because of the beauty of the vocals which, if you are like me, you will surely appreciate. The clarity of bass and the strumming towards the end will boast the good production value of this album and the track will end in a very Joe Satriani-ish way.
Different Skies spontaneously takes over the proceedings in a totally progressive manner but the feel you will get is an over the top mixture of Rock and Metal. The track is fast paced but will know where to hit you to please you. At nine minutes, it has everything for everyone, much like Santa’s bag of goodies. Nearing the midway it will transform into something you might’ve heard from your classical metal bands and the piano interlude…..Ah…it just took me to a different place altogether since I wasn’t expecting it at all , especially with the infusion of the bluesy guitar notes. The solo by Carlos is a classical shredded short piece and you will for the first time hear the talent from Antonio Ramirez on the keyboards as both of them will take you to a short trip of alternate music playing, much like something by Liquid Tension Experiment.
Drifted will bring down the tone of the album. For me this is my favorite track from this album for many reasons. Firstly it is composed in a way to fit right into a progressive metal album’s middle when you really are in need of something like this. The keyboard notes and the guitar notes are something that might raise those tiny hair follicles behind your neck for sure, proving the bands talent once and for all. If you are not yet sold by the band’s talent, this track might be the one that proves it to you.
The next track, Blind Spot, starts off with the bass notes you were wanting to hear in this album, a very Dave Matthews sounding start to this song but the secret is continuous following of the main genre i.e. Progressive Metal with fusion of Jazz. The last two minutes of this track is a show down between the drummer Rodrigo Nunez and Guitarist Carlos Cabrices, and the track ends exactly like something by Dream Theater.
Meeting the Path will returns the album to its true progressive nature with a very good combination of progressive rock and progressive metal at the same time. Throughout the album Ricardo Figuero will show you how good his vocals are, not in terms of harmony but also in terms of his vocal range, and this track is no different. Great guitar work by Carlos Cabrices with sweeping notes and shredding notes all intermingled.
The second last track, Beware of the Birds, has a very good progression of power chords in the background with the keyboards complimenting the guitars and the drumming just in tandem. I don’t know if it’s me or these guys seem to be real big fans of Dream Theater because there are moments throughout the album where it is a little hard to distinguish whether you are really listening to them or DT. The third minute of this track is a highlight within itself, another showdown between Carlos Cabrices and Rodrigo Nunez.
The last track on the album is called The Greatest Plan, another lengthy track on this album lasting nine minutes. The track will perfectly sum up the whole album in terms of what the band is in terms of genre, in terms of variations, in terms of the band’s musical influences and in terms of how the band has that ability to start a journey and then explore everything along the way, even if they have to take a long route to be back on track.
To sum up everything, Tolerance is a band you’ll listen to maybe an extra few times to really get a feel of what they are planning to do to you in terms of music. The first listen might be mysterious and eerie to you but the successive listens will clear out all the fogged out questions that might be raised inside your head. The production value throughout the album is excellent, and if you talk about individual talents, Ricardo Figeuroa has done an amazing job with his vocals: subtle, controlled and singing like a boss (if you have to use slang). The Guitarist in Carlos Cabrices is a maestro who has the ability to mix every element into a masterpiece of his own. Rodrigo Nunez has his moments of greatness with the drums and not to forget the very talented Antonio Ramirez on keyboards. What the band will sound like to you? Honestly I would have to say much like DT but you will also be able to appreciate elements of jazz and classic metal, jazz because Cabrices studied modern jazz harmony with a famous Venezuelan Jazz Maestro Gerry Weil. Entertainment is guaranteed, but for only the select few who can really appreciate the true progressive metal that has the ability to mix and work well with other genres of rock and metal music.

debrancherenzym

To my surprise, or lapse of memory, Tolerance is not the first melodic progressive rock from Venezuela that I've reviewed over the years. There's also been Mojo Pojo and Echoes, probably more progressive metal, both very good bands. From Caracas, the capital city, welcome Tolerance, another very talented prog rock band and their first album, When Time Stops.
When I say talented, I mean to say that, reviewing their respective backgrounds, each member has a vast amount of education and experience to bring to the table. They put their skills to good use creating engaging, not necessarily over technical, progressive rock. Sure, the songs offer different time signatures and shifting tempos. But there's also a pursuit of cohesiveness in melody.
Good examples of this motif abound, but representative are Lutin, with a touch of Middle Eastern flair; Different Skies, where persistent heaviness and polyrhythms give to an expansive ending with a rock groove and fiery guitar solo; or the wonderfully engaging and pleasing classic prog of The Greatest Plan. Maybe to through the listener of kilter, Tolerance offers bouncy, sort of funky, groove of Blind Spot (listen below). Then there's Beware of the Birds which reminds of the best jazz rock fusion. Meeting the Path may be the only song that less prog and more guitar driven rock, but the element still remains.
Gathering together several immensely talented musicians can have two results: at best, some great, accessible and engaging, music; at the worst, something entirely eclectic or too technical only they understand. With Tolerance you get the former. Prog music fans will be entertained, prog peers and snobs will be impressed. When Time Stops is very recommended to both.

Craig Hartranft

¿Que más decirles? empezamos la semana y la empezamos con todo. Bueno, en realidad más o menos como siempre.

www.toleranceband.com