The province of Quebec is full of groups that are not really known enough. But it impresses me even more when these groups, as talented as they are, are one-man projects. This is the case of Frank X, a musical composer scholar who has just released his new album: From Planet X.
Behind the completely incongruous and musically complex style of Frank X, we find very few influences paradoxically very apparent. Those are the epic aspect of it, humor, theatrical feel and a mind blowing universe concept writtings that Devin Townsend has accustomed us which is obviously showing up. Not being an actual copy, however. The writting style of Frank X is quite elaborated and unique. The kind of composition that I'm facing more and more as part of my Bachelor in Music... However, the hedonism of the singer-songwriter is probably filled by the harmonic and structural complexity of his music but it does not feel out of reach or, in a way, elitist, neither aristocratic.
A quite impressive and satisfying heaviness expectation is met in this opus and as promised by some teasers published earlier. In other words, it's like Tchaikovsky's music adaptation to a metal musical style and transposed for distortion saturated seven strings guitars, The whole thing wrapped up in a strong triggering production and hard work in the smallest of details, without meaning to worship this dear Mr. X. But the story does not tell if Frank X himself produces his own albums as if he wasn't doing enough already! Any music lover can be fulfilled by this album: being a geek, a prog snob, a straight snob, a thirsty for heaviness, a common metalhead ... But maybe not a slayer finished fan or a genuine black metal ... That's probably too much for this type of fan!
Samuel Bédard
metaluniverse.net
9.2/10
Original french link:
http://www.metaluniverse.net/lire_critique.php?id=2838
Behind the completely incongruous and musically complex style of Frank X, we find very few influences paradoxically very apparent. Those are the epic aspect of it, humor, theatrical feel and a mind blowing universe concept writtings that Devin Townsend has accustomed us which is obviously showing up. Not being an actual copy, however. The writting style of Frank X is quite elaborated and unique. The kind of composition that I'm facing more and more as part of my Bachelor in Music... However, the hedonism of the singer-songwriter is probably filled by the harmonic and structural complexity of his music but it does not feel out of reach or, in a way, elitist, neither aristocratic.
A quite impressive and satisfying heaviness expectation is met in this opus and as promised by some teasers published earlier. In other words, it's like Tchaikovsky's music adaptation to a metal musical style and transposed for distortion saturated seven strings guitars, The whole thing wrapped up in a strong triggering production and hard work in the smallest of details, without meaning to worship this dear Mr. X. But the story does not tell if Frank X himself produces his own albums as if he wasn't doing enough already! Any music lover can be fulfilled by this album: being a geek, a prog snob, a straight snob, a thirsty for heaviness, a common metalhead ... But maybe not a slayer finished fan or a genuine black metal ... That's probably too much for this type of fan!
Samuel Bédard
metaluniverse.net
9.2/10
Original french link:
http://www.metaluniverse.net/lire_critique.php?id=2838