First off the production in this is raw(ramsey voice) sounding but very finessed, it's almost like they recorded the whole album live and did a EQ mix..Read the full review at rifftastic2.wixsite.com
It's not the kind of production i come to expect from these kind of bands which have very polished and extremely well/ overproduced records BUT after getting through this record i can say it benefits it fully and il explain why!
The dynamics of the band are in full exposure here from the small to the large moments in the songs from the heavy and technical riffs to the dexterous bass playing and the drums strength and impact is present all the way through but remains present and clear in the mix but also its hard and precise work from the musicians and not fix it in the mix attitude.
HPs’ greatest asset (in this humble writer’s view) is their joyful attitude to instrumental arrangement – every shimmering clarinet line, buzzing horn swell and glimmering glockenspiel hit feels like the product of exquisite craft and attention, as well as incredible musicianship. It’s a rare group that can muster such a broad instrumental palette (is that a dulcimer in ‘Treacle’?) – and they deftly weave a host of organic and electronic timbres together from technicolour track to another. (Niall Ward-O'Brien at feckingbahamas.com)Also read the review by Simon Smith at higherplainmusic.com
There's good variety in the song styles. The opening track, Blood Moon, features the unmistakable galloping rhythms and harmonising guitars of Iron Maiden. Arioso Lullaby harkens back to Pachelbel's Canon in D, overdubbed with layers of electric guitars, while Whale Song is, yes you guessed it, whale cries imitated via whammy bar, over oceanic keyboards and sound effects.Read the full review by Chris Haggstrom at dprp.net
While Edge Of The Black has an occasional Yngwie-type neo-classical solo passage, and there are some reminders of classical influences in keyboard harpsichord samples, the best elements of this album remind me more of the crunchy, riff-laden playing of George Lynch or Zakk Wylde, than the fleet-fingered solo gymnastics of Satriani, Malmsteen, or Vai.
