Review Summary: With incredible nuance and charm, and a grandiose narrative that spans across the entire album, there is plenty of beautiful music in The Arcane Insignia's debut.
The Arcane Insignia is a tough act to pin down. Equal parts acoustic folk, heavy metal, and progressive rock, they bring in a unique smattering of elements together to craft their debut album.
I. Kingdom of Wolves:
Symphonic in scape. The beginning is nothing short of enchanting, and once the string ensembles come in, there is a sense that the music is setting up for an epic scope. There is a sense of a story being told, of a hero and his encounters. The music rarely stays static, seamlessly morphing into new shapes and directions. The vocals are reminiscent of a cross between the melismatic contours of Pain of Salvation’s Daniel Gildenlow and the gritty raspers of Tool’s Maynard James Keenan. Sometimes harsh, sometimes intimate, one can’t help but feel that they are sitting in a tavern surrounded by a dozen other patrons, gathering around the bard to hear the stories of recently witnessed heroism and bloodshed. One minor complaint of mine is that occasionally it’s challenging to hear the specific lyrics, although this could be simply the fault of my own ears, not accustomed to picking out words in songs.
In any case, “Kingdom of Wolves” is a sweeping dramatic journey, contained within itself, yet also a prelude to the rest of the album’s narrative. Near the end of the song, the guitar work at times reminded me of Opeth’s album “Morningrise”. The influences that mix together are simultaneously staggering and subtle, which make for an incredibly successful work. The minute details found in the string work and the organic guitar lines at the end stood out for me as one of my favorite parts of the entire piece.
II. Architects of a Flawed Design:
The opening pizzicati and guitar harmonics immediately grant a whimsical ambiance to the beginning of this song. Whereas “Kingdom of Wolves” was more tempestuous, a veritable overture that takes one through multiple worlds, “Architects of a Flawed Design” feels like an expedition to new land, focused in an exploratory direction. If I had to invent my own personal narrative, it is as if we have left the gates of a grand Spanish citadel into uncharted territory, and we start to meet various sights, fellow travelers, and landmarks. The haunting choir sounds near the middle of the song bring to mind an abandoned Spanish cathedral, at once regal, yet also ethereal and mystical. The sun starts to set as the guitar rhythms in the triple meter trot us ever forward into the dark uncertainty of the night. The song closes out with a ghoulish racket, in a sense invoking the distorted experimental Latin stylings of The Mars Volta, a sense which is abetted by the preceding falsetto swoops around the guitar and string lines.
III. Chapter 9:
“Chapter 9” feels very compact and driven in its structure. Whereas the other songs have many twists and turns, “Chapter 9” maintains a steady pulse. There is a sense of tragedy, with emotional guitar and string lines pulling the heart of the listener. There are incredibly tasteful moments peppered throughout, such as a strong pause with a deep breath before continuing into the relentless ostinato of the guitars. Near the latter third of the song, there is a powerful moment where the guitar rhythm changes in a dramatic way, marking an emotional climax in the song. Indeed the entire character of the song changes at this point, as what follows feels like the signs of hope, a glimmer in the dark turmoil from the rest of the song. The use of guitar harmonics, unique vocal stylings, tasteful percussion, and carefully written string parts all help to emphasize the dramatic arc of the song in powerful ways.
IV. Car(di)nal & (Sub)liminal:
Cardinal Subliminal features of some my favorite string and percussion writing in the entire album. Powerful tremolo lines that accelerate, like a rubber ball dropped on the floor, strong cello marcati, and melodies that are not afraid to wander from the rest of the instrumentation all make this song stand out in unique ways. The guitars, strings, and percussion all work together in a symbiotic fashion, often helping to emphasize specific rhythms and accents within a phrase. I feel like I could listen to this song dozens of times and still catch many new details and nuances that were missed before. For the astute listener, there are so many minute details and contours that it’s impossible to catch and process all of them within a single listen. My only gripe is that perhaps the narrative becomes a little less clear within such complex passage work, as I often found myself getting carried away by the intricate patterns and losing a sense of the overall direction of the piece. However, the beautifully clear and stark ending helps tie everything together. I found myself re-listening to this ending section several times, as there was something about the enchanting ambiance that really captured me. The way this part helps set up “Obelisk, Pt 1” cannot be understated.
V. Obelisk, Pt. 1: Fallen Shell:
Immediately, one is grabbed by the confident string playing. As I think about how sparse the instrumentation is, I am simultaneously amazed by the variety of sounds and characters that can be captured within such a limited a palette. Indeed, prior to “Obelisk Pt 1”, we had not heard anything like this cello line. This in effect ensures that one is constantly at the edge of their seat, being pulled in by innovation after innovation.
Although I was expecting the momentum to continue to increase, the beautiful guitar work that follows was just as welcome. Once again, the attention to detail cannot be understated, as there are tiny little staccato notes and flourishes within the guitar playing that really bring the music to the next level. The 5-minute mark features some of the most memorable and catchy melodies from the entire album. Once again, all the instruments work together in profound ways, finding ways to balance the rhythmic patterns.
VI. Obelisk, Pt 2: Liquid Skies:
The Arcane Insignia has a knack for always catching your interest in the beginning of a piece, never repeating the same idea and yet never heavy-handed in its approach, either. The Lydian major chord is a startling contrast to the minor-laden harmonies found throughout the entire album, so its appearance here is both unexpected and welcome. Like all the other tracks, “Obelisk Pt 2” has a plethora of ear candy and intricacies to keep the listener engaged throughout the entire piece. There are several vocal lines that really stood out to me particularly on this track.
VII. Gemini Cycle:
“Gemini Cycle” starts in an evocative and mysterious manner. Splashes of color and sound are draped around the theme, with impressionistic overtones cascading around everywhere like a Monet painting. The vocals take a powerful spotlight on this piece, weaving in and around the instrumentation.
The lyrical flow is particularly vivid in “Gemini Cycle,” and really taps into the powerful sense that we are nearing the end of the album. Rather than the “crash and bang” approach of many songwriters, The Arcane Insignia decides to turn a wistful eye towards the finale. Absent are the driving guitar ostinati and rhythms that could be found on many of the other pieces. Rather, funereal guitar arpeggios turn this finale into a kind of mournful elegy. The ethereal choir sounds turn “Gemini Cycle” into a prismatic cloud of sound that ultimately escapes description. Overall, a sublime ending to a wonderfully innovative and unique album.
VIII. Malaguena Salerosa:
If I had not known previously that “Malaguena Salerosa” was a cover, I would have assumed that this was simply the next and final track of the album. Although I am not familiar with the original, The Arcane Insignia’s distinctive guitar playing, flowering string lines, and lugubrious atmosphere makes this piece totally their own. The vocal work is a tour-de-force, with powerfully sustained melodies driving the action of the music ever forward.
Overall, The Arcane Insignia’s album is not something to be missed. Rarely do you hear such craft and attention to detail painstakingly invested into each and every single track. With incredible nuance and charm, and a grandiose narrative that spans across the entire album, there is plenty of beautiful music to be discovered that cannot simply be fathomed over a handful of listens.
