Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio

Last updated

Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio
Evo Cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released3 August 2009
RecordedJuly - October 2008
StudioEtherial Tantrum Studio, Portsmouth
The Old Blacksmiths Studio, Portsmouth
Rossgill Studios, Portsmouth
Genre Progressive rock
Length48:59
Label Mascot Records
Enochian Theory chronology
A Monument to the Death of an Idea
(2006)
Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio
(2009)
Life...And All It Entails
(2012)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Classic Rock Magazine -(Favourable) [1]
Terrorizer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Metal Hammer Magazine UKStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Metal Hammer Magazine GermanyStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Metal Hammer Magazine PolandStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Powerplay magazineStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Zero Tolerance Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Big Cheese Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Rock Hard GermanyStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Rock Hard GreeceStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Rock Hard ItalyStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]

Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio is the first full-length album by Enochian Theory. It was released initially by their own independent label on 3 August 2009, and had a worldwide major label release by Mascot records on 27 September 2010.

Contents

Conception

Due to outside issues and influences the band needed to write and record a new album in a very short period of time. As a result, the vocalist/songwriter Ben Harris-Hayes began writing in January 2008 and continued until March, when the band was sure they had enough material to proceed.

To accommodate the short time frame, the songwriting process differed from their previous releases, with the vocalist composing all the music and main structures. Using specific music software packages and MIDI sequencing and samples to recreate a full band performance, Harris-Hayes could see how sections flowed and how they would sound with a full band playing the songs.

The band then worked on these songs together, when they practiced three times a week at their Pyres of Mithrandire studio and rehearsal space. When they were sure that the songs would work as a three piece band, Harris-Hayes started working with The Lost Orchestra to compose and perform the album's orchestral pieces.

With thirteen tracks written and ready to take into the studio, pre-production began at the beginning of July.

Recording

The drums were recorded at The Old Blacksmiths Studio in Portsmouth with the band again working with the Emmy nominated engineer, Rich Tamblyn, who had co-produced the band's A Monument to the Death of an Idea EP. The guitars, bass guitar and vocals were recorded with Josh Eaves and Ross Gill at Rossgill Studios in the city and the orchestral arrangements and recording were completed at Harris-Hayes's home Ethereal Tantrum studio. Recording of the album was completed on 12 October 2008.

The finished recording was mixed and mastered in Sweden by David Castillo, who had co-produced Katatonia's album, The Great Cold Distance , on the Peaceville label as well as mixing the Opeth album Watershed on the Roadrunner Records label. It was mixed in Castillo's recently completed new state-of-the-art recording facility Ghostward and was the first project worked on there.

The artwork for the album was conceived and realized by the Swedish artist Robin Portnoff, who had been introduced to the band by Castillo.

Pre-release

In May 2009, the band placed three of the new tracks, "Apathia", "Movement" and "Waves of Ascension", on their website and Myspace page.

Although the album was not due to be released until August 2009, pre-release copies started to make waves in the industry with the organisers of the ProgPower Europe festival booking them to appear at the 2009 event. Blabbermouth.net quoted the festival organisers who said, "Probably hardly anyone has ever heard of this band, but that will definitely change when they will release their new album in August 2009," and "ENOCHIAN THEORY definitely will surprise many of you."

Distribution for the band's independently released CD and downloads was once again handled by CODE 7/Plastic Head Distribution with the band keen to build on the working relationship that began with their A Monument to the Death of an Idea and "Namyamka" releases.

In the buildup to its independent release, tracks from the new album received rotation on Kerrang radio and Bruce Dickinson's BBC 6 Music rock show.

Release and reception

The album was released through the band's own independent Anomalousz Music Records label on 3 August 2009 followed with wide press coverage in music publications across Europe including the English, German and Polish editions of Metal Hammer , Classic Rock , Terrorizer , Zero Tolerance , Rock Sound , the German and Greek editions of Rock Hard , Powerplay rock and metal magazine, Big Cheese , the Spanish magazine This Is Rock, the Italian magazine Metal Maniac, the Norwegian magazine Helvete, the Finnish magazine Inferno and the Romanian rock and metal magazine Maximum Rock.

Worldwide re-release through Mascot records

On 29 April 2010, the band announced they had signed a deal with Mascot records. As part of this deal, the album was re-released worldwide through the label on 27 September 2010.

Track listing

All music written by Enochian Theory, lyrics by Harris-Hayes

  1. Every Ending Has A Beginning... (1:08)
  2. The Dimensionless Monologue (6:55):
    - Tedium (i) 2:20
    - The Dimensionless Monologue (ii) 2:59
    - T.D.M (iii) 1:36
  3. At Great Odds With... (5:07)
  4. Apathia (3:58)
  5. Triumvirate (2:35)
  6. Movement (5:14)
  7. After The Movement (2:53)
  8. Waves of Ascension (6:57)
  9. The Fire Around The Lotus (7:15)
  10. The Living Continuum (2:22)
  11. A Monument to the Death of an Idea (4:36)

Total running time: 48:59

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Majesty</span>

Black Majesty is an Australian power metal band formed in 2001 as Kymera. The band was founded by guitarist Steve Janevski and bassist Cory Betts (ex-Pegazus). After the release of a three track sampler album, they signed a five-album contract with German-based label, LMP Records. The group released their fifth studio album, Stargazer, in July 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labyrinth (band)</span> Italian power metal band

Labyrinth is an Italian power metal band formed in 1991 in Massa, Italy. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.

<i>Still Life</i> (Opeth album) 1999 studio album by Opeth

Still Life is the fourth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. It was produced and engineered by Opeth alongside Fredrik Nordström, and released on 18 October 1999 through Peaceville Records. It was the only Opeth album to be released through Peaceville, following the band's departure from Candlelight and Century Black after the release of My Arms, Your Hearse, and the first album to feature Martin Mendez.

<i>Metal Hammer</i> British metal music magazine

Metal Hammer is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions available in numerous other countries. Metal Hammer features news, reviews and long-form articles covering both major and underground bands in heavy metal, as well as covering rock, punk, grunge and other alternative music genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pure Reason Revolution</span> British rock group

Pure Reason Revolution (PRR) is a British rock group formed at the University of Westminster in 2003. Their music incorporates elements of progressive rock and electronic. Their music has been variously described as 'Astral Folk' and 'Progressive rock'. Members have a shared appreciation for the work of bands such as Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Nirvana, Justice, Kraftwerk and Fleetwood Mac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Bowness</span> Musical artist

Tim Bowness is an English singer and songwriter primarily known for his work as part of the band No-Man, a long-term project formed in 1987 with Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson.

<i>Terrorizer</i> (magazine) Extreme music magazine

Terrorizer was an extreme music magazine published by Dark Arts Ltd. in the United Kingdom. It was released every four weeks with thirteen issues a year and featured a "Fear Candy" covermount CD, a twice yearly "Fear Candy Unsigned" CD, and a double-sided poster.

<i>Classic Rock</i> (magazine) British magazine

Classic Rock is a British magazine and website dedicated to rock music, owned and published by Future. It was launched in October 1998 and is based in London. The magazine publishes 13 editions a year, mainly covering rock bands from the 60, 70s, 80s and 90s, with the likes of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith and Deep Purple amongst its most prominent cover stars. As well as veteran rock artists, Classic Rock also covers modern rock bands and releases, with Alter Bridge, Rival Sons, Halestorm, Ghost, Blackberry Smoke and The Struts amongst the younger artists to have appeared on its cover in recent years.

<i>Antichrist</i> (Akercocke album) 2007 studio album by Akercocke

Antichrist is the fifth studio album by English death metal band Akercocke, released in 2007. It is their third release on Earache Records and the first to feature Peter Benjamin on bass, having replaced Peter Theobalds. The limited edition super jewel case version includes two bonus tracks, these are covers of songs by Morbid Angel & Death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enochian Theory</span> Musical artist

Enochian Theory is an English rock/metal/progressive rock band, formed in 2004 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The original lineup of the band consisted of drummer Sam Street, bass guitarist Shaun Rayment, guitarist Scott Ware, and singer/guitarist/keyboard player Ben Harris Hayes.

<i>A Monument to the Death of an Idea</i> 2006 EP by Enochian Theory

A Monument to the Death of an Idea is an EP by the band Enochian Theory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aeon Zen</span> British progressive rock/metal band

Aeon Zen are an English progressive metal band formed in 2008, led by founding member Rich Gray. They have been praised and heavily featured in the international music press, labelled by Classic Rock Magazine as 'a strong contender for best newcomer at the very, very least' and, additionally, as Progression Magazine’s selection for "debut album of the year".

<i>...Very Eavy ...Very Umble</i> 1970 studio album by Uriah Heep

...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble is the debut studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep.

Shadowkeep are an English heavy metal band formed in Guildford in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deadly Circus Fire</span>

Deadly Circus Fire is a four-piece English progressive metal band from London, England. Formed in early 2009, the group's line-up includes guitarist Save Addario, drummer Paul Igoe, vocalist Adam Grant and bassist Mike Enort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perseo Miranda</span> Musical artist

Perseo Miranda is an Italian vocalist and songwriter, and founder of the heavy metal band Perseo Miranda.

<i>Life...And All It Entails</i> 2012 studio album by Enochian Theory

Life...And All It Entails is the second full-length album by Enochian Theory The album received its worldwide major label release via Mascot records on March 12, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obsidian Kingdom</span> Spanish music band

Obsidian Kingdom is a music band formed in 2005 in Barcelona, whose music is not easy to label. The band itself defines it as “hard-to-classify heavy sound with plenty of contrasts”. The band's music has been characterized as drawing equally on progressive rock, post-metal, black metal, alternative and electronic music. In 2013, Metal Injection called them "the masters of every genre".

<i>Symmetry</i> (Saga album) 2021 studio album by Saga

Symmetry is the twenty-third studio album by Canadian rock band Saga. It was released on March 12, 2021. It contains acoustic versions of previously released songs, some in the form of medleys or augmented with new interludes. The idea originated on the 40th anniversary tour in 2017, where the band would perform acoustically as their own support band "Pockets".

<i>Senjutsu</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Iron Maiden

Senjutsu is the seventeenth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 3 September 2021. Their first album in six years, it was a critical and commercial success, praised for its ambitious epic scope. Two singles, "The Writing on the Wall" and "Stratego", were released to promote the album.

References

  1. Classic Rock - Prog magazine, published by Future Publishing, ISSN 1464-7834, August 2009 issue - Album review
  2. Terrorizer Magazine, published by Miranda Yardley, ISSN 1350-6978, August 2009 issue, number 187 - Album review
  3. Metal Hammer Magazine - UK, published by Future Publishing, ISSN 1422-9048, Oct 2009 issue - Album review
  4. Metal Hammer Magazine - Germany, published by Future Publishing, ISSN 1422-9048, August 2009 issue - Album review
  5. Metal Hammer Magazine - Poland, published by Future Publishing, ISSN 1422-9048, August 2009 issue - Album review
  6. Power Play - Rock & Metal magazine, ISSN 1474-287X, Sept 2009 issue , number 113 - CD review
  7. Zero Tolerance - Rock & Metal magazine, published by Obdurate Ltd, September 2009 issue- CD review
  8. CD review - August 2009 issue, number 114 - Big Cheese Magazine, ISSN 1365-358X
  9. Rock Hard Magazine, Germany, August 2009 issue - Album review
  10. Rock Hard Magazine, Germany, September 2009 issue - Album review
  11. Rock Hard Magazine, Germany, Dec 2009 issue - Album review