Review Summary: Eidolon is a journey. Where that journey takes you is essentially up to you. Although, if the rich guitars and shamanistic vocals have anything to say about it you'll most likely end up in a better place than where you were before you let this album touch
In my review of Rishloo's first album, my overall description pegged it as a cross between Tool and A Perfect Circle. In Rishloo's sophomore effort we find them getting a bit more comfortable in their own skin and sound. This is exactly on par with everything they've been saying in their interviews. While always being appreciative of the comparisons to Tool, it was clearly not their goal to be in Tool's shadow for their entire career and they were looking to move on from that sound sooner rather than later. For better or worse, Eidolon has accomplished exactly that.
I have to start off by saying that right out of the gate I did not like this album quite as much as I liked their first album. That was mostly due to the dramatic shift in vocal style that Andrew Mailloux, lead singer, chose to incorporate in the first two songs. However, once I got past that and my ears assimilated to this new direction I was able to fully appreciate the album in its entirety. It's also necessary to say that after the first two songs, which aren't all that bad when taken in context, Mailloux doesn't stray very far from his original vocal style.
The great thing about Rishloo is that they've always packed a solid one-two punch in regards to vocals and musicianship. This is probably the main reason why I like to measure them up against Tool. This trend certainly continues in their second album. The tracks that they lay down behind Mailloux's vocals are otherworldly and definitely a step above their first outing. The guitars assault your ears from what seems like every angle and then all of the sudden posses the capability of coming back together in a harmonious orgy of sound. I also must add that it is no doubt due to their top-notch musicianship that I was easily able to get used to those first two songs.
Once again Rishloo have produced an album where it's very easy to let each track melt into the next. It's a wonder to me that this band still remains unsigned, even as I write this review after they've already completed three studio albums. This album should be enjoyable to most fans of progressive rock who are open to new things. Eidolon is a journey. Where that journey takes you is essentially up to you. Although, if the rich guitars and shamanistic vocals have anything to say about it you'll most likely end up in a better place than where you were before you let this album touch your ears.
