Review Summary: The third release by the prolific AOR/progressive rock band fronted by Dan Swanö.
It's quite odd actually.
I is Nightingale's third release, but it's part one of a four part concept. I wanna say they pulled a George Lucas, but I'm not sure if I should associate such greatness with a marketing ploy to get more money with the end result of terrible movies. Before I get sidetracked with mindless jibber-jabber. Dan Swanö used to be a part of the most influential progressive death metal band, Edge of Sanity, who used to incorporate prog rock with death metal before Opeth existed; that's just a side not. As I was saying before, the album is a concept of some little boy who ran away from his abusive home and met some other little boy who had a similar story as why he ran away too. Then the story line progresses with the two playing games to see who's the most dominate. Then it starts getting dark when then play a game with a noose to see who can defy the laws of nature. Well the kid dies obviously, and the protagonist feels extremely guilty, and he then wonders around not knowing what to do. With the innocence of “harmless” child's play, the boy has no where to go and no one to look after, or be looked after by someone just like him. So the boy goes back to his abusive family and his horrible life style. Well that's the concept of part one, before everything else spirals downhill in the other albums with a haunting the protagonist faces by the little boy who died, the selling of one's soul, the killing of the love of his life, but yet he stills makes it through and lives his life. It's almost like a mid-life crisis on steroids.
Anyways, the first song alone should catch your attention for about everything the song can offer to the listener; you know catchy vocals, excellent instrumentation from everyone's part, and an awesome solo. If not the second song should hold that firm grasp of interest, because it's the most lively and upbeat song off the entire album. Another great aspect of the musical writing skills presented by Dan Swanö that's not just any other guitar solo, is the emotion connected as the storyline progresses. For example, the songs “The Game” and “Game Over” are about the two kids play these tests that determine who's more dominate, then the other one ends up with the other dying on the noose that was tied around the tree; the song writing ability by Dan in those two songs really sets up the atmosphere of that dark melancholic vibe that's presented in those two songs alone. Yet, those songs aren't the only ones that can create atmosphere. Other songs such as “Alonely” is easily one the most beautiful ballads I've heard in a long time, and the same can be said by anyone who listens to it. Even after that song “Alonely”, the dark, sketchy, melancholic atmosphere that was in “The Game” and “Game Over” is still present till the end of the album, including the instrumental album closer.
All in all, the album is surely an overlooked prog rock classic that's been practically ignored by the metal community considering its connections to the progressive death metal band Edge of Sanity. Then again, Nightingale doesn't focus on marketing their music, they mainly focus solely on the music, hence why they take their time between album releases. When listening to the album it may not be a hit right after the first listen.
I is an album that takes time to grow on you, but it won't take long to acknowledge the beauty of the album.
Note: I is the first album album of the four part concept followed by The Breathing Shadow, The Closing Chronicles, and Alive Again.
