Aeon Spoke - Aeon Spoke

Emerging from the ashes of metal outfits Cynic and Death, Aeon Spoke have tried to build upon their previous bands' abilities to confound and create diverse ideas. The problem with trying to produce progressive music is you really have to launch yourself into a soundscape that is both challenging and evocative of nothing you've heard before. Unfortunately for Aeon Spoke, this ends up sounding as MOR as a Phil Collins box set with lyrics that should have remained in a cheap greetings card. Really, there's not much to distinguish this from any number of daytime radio-friendly bands plugging their tired derivative ideas. All points are sign-posted to such a degree that it's clear on the first listen of each song the exact point they expect you to get your lighter aloft for the big finale. It wouldn't be quite so terrible if their intentions weren't the polar opposite to what they've laid down. [Garry Thomson]