Greenvale Manitou - Skies & Grain
Alternative/Alt. Rock, Hip Hop, Metal
Minnesota, United States
Overall Impression: Powered by its poignant themes and bombastically propelled forward by both its excellent writing and accomplished performances, Greenvale Manitou's explosive prog rock/metal track "Skies & Grain" is a melodically exciting and rhythmically thrilling piece of songwriting that is steeped in inspired creativity and thought-provoking sentiment, providing a rewarding listening experience that many a rock and metal lover will appreciate.
Strongest Point(s): Opening with some well-implemented and strikingly effective scene-setting sound design elements that include subtle radio static and unnerving air raid sirens, a strong sense of ambiance and atmosphere is swiftly established and helps to instantly draw listeners into the track's potent themes. It's not long after this rather haunting intro that we're introduced to one of "Skies & Grain's" many compelling guitar prog-tinted guitar riffs, this one making excellent use of a palm-muted arpeggio based progression that serves as the perfect backdrop to introduce the lead vocals into the arrangement. A particularly strong vocal performance stands confidently at the song's forefront and adopts a brilliant mix of alternative and more intense metal-inspired vocal styling that manages to effortlessly mold itself so as to better fit the various textural changes that occur throughout the arrangement, an example of this would be how the vocals embrace a timbrally delicate and more dreamlike persona in the verse sections which then gives way to a far more guttural and growl-infused metal-inspired style in the chorus sections. Between the moments of atmosphere-inducing calm and collectives and outright riff-tastic dazzle, there is a clear focus on melody, whether it'd be the beautifully crafted lead guitar work and its impeccable phrasing or the interesting melodic movement that has been intricately woven into the compelling vocal lines, "Skies & Grain" has plenty of memorable hooks that listeners will find it incredibly difficult not to be swept up by.
Target Audience Appeal: There's a great blend of genres on offer in "Skies & Grain" that allows it to appeal to a broad range of music lovers but can certainly see it greatly appealing to the more progressive rock style lovers particularly.
Artist target suggestions: Porcupine Tree, Haken, Subsignal, Devin Townsend, Blind Ego, Soen, Richard Henshall, Spock's Beard, Riverside, Tool, Time, The Valuator, Indigo Storm, Klone, Crown Lands, Kingcrow, Sylvan
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About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.