Brethren - The Price of Prophecy

[Trance2MoveU]

 

Title: The Price of Prophecy

Artist: Brethren

Label: Spectral Records

Release: May, 2008

 

 

1. Interval (2:21)

2. Spartan Soul (6:00)

3. Two Thones (8:42)

4. Dark Arts (8:23)

5. Chaos Regeneration (8:28)

6. Ultimatum (8:11)

7. Sirens (7:36)

8. Betrayal Of Sound (8:42)

9. Allende (8:31)

 

 

This is the 2nd album by the brothers based in South Africa Phyx and Tickets. Phyx released his album Kiss the Blade in 2006 and Tickets released his album Time Lapse, also in 2006. Both were high power, South African hyper trance that I love so much. As the duo Brethren, their last album Legend of Cane also released in 2006, was a smash. :posford: The hype machine has said they have added a classical edge to their music so here is to hoping these 2 can keep up their winning ways.

 

The cover, as you can see has a very medieval, alchemy like feel to it. Pretty cool.

 

 

Interval- This is an interlude, pretty corny if you ask me, :wank: but it sets the tone of what's to come. I get the feeling as if I am about to witness a great ritual or a sacrifice. Musically it is disposable as it is very short, with um...not that much music.

 

 

Spartan Soul- This track picks up right where the interlude left off. That tension is maintained, as leads flick in and out of earshot.

You can hear some brass, plucked instruments in the background giving that classical feel. Kinda like Talpa. Nothing really elaborate here, but it seems as if they are setting the table.

 

 

Two Thrones - We start off with an ominous piano hinting that war is afoot. At 2:40, acid licks the back of your neck, but you turn around and no one is there. The synth arpeggio assaults your senses, as the piano returns, perhaps informing you of a poor choice. Classical strings are present above a gurgling synth as the track fills out. Pretty good track!

 

 

Dark Arts - "Life...and death. Space...and time. Fate...and chance. These are the forces of the universe. Tonight ladies and gentlemen I present you a man who has unlocked these mysteries. From the furthest corners of the world where the dark arts still hold sway." A minor key melody tinkles across a flangerized lead as the previous statement is uttered. The bass combines with a dirty synth creating a juicy groove. Leads whip across the track, as if in an attack and then a parry. The dust settles and the tinkling melody is back. The lead that follows bruises the ear with a frenetic pace as the track puts it all together at the end. Great track! :clapping:

 

 

 

Chaos Regeneration- "They say that man only uses a tenth of his brain power. Another percent and we may actually be worthy of God's..." The Heroes sample is followed by a rambling piano and various effects. A chopped up synth rises out of the break with alien sounds skittering by. When the wobbly lead comes in we are well into the track. The piano returns during the 2nd break, and the influence of Talpa here is palpable. Pretty good track!

 

 

 

Ultimatum - More delicate tinkling over orchestral sounds. As the bass churns and metallic leads chime, synths blast you with wariness. The melody is careful. It draws you out as it pumps. The orchestral samples fit well in this track giving you just the amount of historical feel. I enjoyed this. :posford:

 

 

 

Sirens- The beginning of this track has someone making noise with their mouth, and it comes of like old cheddar. The rolling synth that follows takes over, and then we get a "goaish" melody which sounds really good. A bottled lead peaks in from the background and keeps the mood tense. All the synhs combine at the end and produce a super groove! Nice flow to this one.

 

 

Betrayal Of Sound- More orchestral samples and large drums. The brass is there along with the strings and it feels like a soundtrack. The beat is heavy with stabs jostling for position. Halfway through the groove is tight and keeps my head bouncing. Once again the end of the track is outstanding Brethren production with phat beats and head clogging groove. Awesome!

 

 

 

Allende V2- This is the 2nd version to Allende from the Wild Spirits Strong Medicine compilation of 2004. That familiar high pitched melody starts off and then gives way to a crawling arpeggio. The melody comes back and evolves into different leads carrying the tune. Pretty good track, but I would have to hear the previous version to tell if it is that different.

 

 

Conclusion: You can definitely hear the classical edge here. :drama: It works well for me. They still have their powerful sound to go along with it but they also created a feel that runs through the whole album. As I mentioned before Talpa (and definitely The Misted Muppet) must have influenced these guys. I think this is an example of setting the bar so high on their first album though that they were doomed to fall a little short. While not as much of a smash as their Legend of Cane, this is a nice complement to it. It's a good album and way better than a lot of other crap nowadays. Twilight music with a medieval slant. Nice! 8.2/10

 

Mdk

[Ormion]

Very, very nice album!

You can hear the work of these guys. The hard work on each track is obvious. No lazy beats, just great Psy.

The album is much more storytelling than the first one, with a classic touch in the melodies.

Every track tells a story. The attention to detail is impressive. And all that without forgeting the rave feeling of the first album. Fast leads and uplifting twilight melodies. No weak tracks here, but especially Sirens and Betrayal Of Sound are already in my ''best of the best of 2008'' list for me.

 

 

 

Quality. Simple as that.

[recursion loop]

This is darker and more evil/intence than what I'm usually listening to, but I've really enjoyed the whole album. These guys have some real melodic talent and know how to create captivating atmosphere.

 

I think, I recognize Access Virus in most of the synth sounds (given that it was 2008 it must be very likely that they indeed had one), which makes me love it even more