Review Summary: In Time features the familiar sounds of catchy riffs and melodic undertones that can draw you in easily, but it’s the layers of complex atmospheres and dancing poly-rhythmical signatures that are executed almost seamlessly that keep you listening.
When I discovered that my latest review would be on the upcoming album In Time by progressive metal act Intervals, I was energized to write it, as it is such a rarity that I get the opportunity to write about a more complex and gratifying genre of music. And Intervals does not disappoint in the slightest.
Now, discovering that Intervals was a purely instrumental group, I was a little apprehensive about what to expect. I prefer when I am listening to progressive metal that it be inspiring, emotional, and right up in my face, and history be told, I have observed that similar bands lacking a vocal presence seem to fall short and tend to lose my interest. So, I understandably had a suspicion that this album was going to be a bit underwhelming.
I was wrong.
The opening track, Alchemy, is strictly an album introduction that is atmospheric and has underlying electronic samples beneath them. Although short, it features a driving, almost Periphery-esque rhythm to it that is simply a warm up to what is to come.
Mata Hari, picks up right where it’s opener left off, but in a much more complex fashion. The guitars build a wall of sound, dancing in and out of rhythm with the thundering drums, setting a complex foundation of music that would easily give the gentleman from Meshuggah a run for their money. Until, they entire group crescendos into a moment of stunning melody that grabs you by the shirt collars and pulls you in and fails to let go. By the time the reprisal of the second verse came around, I had completely forgotten that the band didn’t have a vocalist, and found myself completely hooked.
Tapestry was an instant head bobbing, mechanical presence that was both dynamic and visual. The music was it’s own story teller. With the very impressive guitar leads, harmonizing with one another, and the clean breakdowns, it was very easy to envision the compelling musical parts being played out in front of me.
The album evolves into the most straight forward and catchy track on the album, Memento. It begins almost as if you accidentally stumbled into a power metal album before they hit you with the half time, and lock into a steady rhythm that supports some very memorable melodic guitars. It could easily be the song I see them releasing as a single down the road, it captures some very familiar sounds that fans of the genre can easily identify with.
And then, before you know it, we are at our finale, Epiphany. And what an appropriate name for the finisher. I say this because it is by far the most complex and diverse track on the album. That’s what an epiphany should be, complicated yet telling, and this track is just that. It begins with a layer of synth pads and drums that evolve into softer, more abstract sounds that what the rest of the album provides. The guitars create space by cleaning up and allowing the bass to show off by walking around the rhythm and hammering out chords that is very unique for this type of music. And once again, an impressive lead guitar, almost seems to crawl it’s way into the mix, adding another layer of complexity. This eventually builds into a familiar heaviness, yet retaining the temperate feeling of the song.
But the real gem of the album comes when the band harmoniously descends into a casual yet spacey moment that, fans of the genre will know what I mean when I say this, is very Selkies-like. It is old school and filled with romantic energy that is hard to describe unless you too are listening to it at the same time as I am. Eventually, the album reaches a towering conclusion of heavy, rhythmic drive that fades and left me wondering where the last twenty-two and a half minutes went.
There are not many bands in the genre that choose not to present it’s listeners with words and vocals that I feel I can truly sink my teeth into (I can actually count them one hand), but if Intervals can stay the course and continue to offer listening experiences of this calibre, then I have no doubt in my mind that they will be amongst the upper echelon and be a band that is both distinguished and fun to listen to.
