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Scandinavia's musical offerings never cease to surprise those on the other side of the world, as new music from this region is made available to us daily. While Norway is best known for its extreme metal and frozen tundras, COMMUNIC's style is one that isn't easy to nail down, though it becomes obvious that this modern mixture of progressive and traditional metal shows no preference or reliance on any one style but embraces the expansive spectrum of what metal can offer.
Founded in March of 2003 as a project band by Oddleif Stensland and Tor Atle Andersen (both ex-members of Scariot), COMMUNIC's nucleus was joined by bass player Erik Mortensen (Oddleif's former Ingermanland bandmate) and Danish session keyboarder Peter Jensen (ex-Sinphonia) to provide the album with an atmospheric touch and a fuller sound. Their sound established, COMMUNIC entered dUb studio and recorded a three-track demo, distributing only one hundred copies within the scene, which was remarkably voted "Demo of the Month" by Rock Hard Magazine. COMMUNIC were also quick to receive praise from the metal underground, methodically making their way up to top recognition.
In July of 2004, COMMUNIC signed a long-term record deal with Nuclear Blast, and devoted three weeks in Jacob Hansen Studios in Denmark with producer / studio namesake Jacob Hansen (Raunchy, Invocator, Aborted) to record their debut album, Conspiracy In Mind. A crisp, pristine sound and perfect vocal clarity dominate the entire disc, with special emphasis on the drums, which are up-front and clean. With a stellar production job, one can easily lose themselves in the powerfully expansive landscape created by this debut album.
Rich in both scope and emotional depth, Conspiracy In Mind's diversity is its strongest asset. The commanding songwriting, impressive vocals, and beguiling choruses keeps listeners entranced as they journey into transitional ranges of highs & lows and are brought back again in gracefully smooth sweeps. With their shortest and longest compositions clocking in at 6:48 and 10:54 respectively, the inherent sonic aggressiveness never betrays the reigns of tight control, as the collective technical skills of the band stand proud.
With promise at the helm of this endeavor, COMMUNIC deliver quality, variety, and innovation. Never afraid to explore the geography of progression or experimentation, the result is moody yet focused, subdued yet aggressive, and volatile yet contained, demonstrating the particularities of the creative personality housed within each band member, best reflected in "Communication Sublime." "History Reversed" reveals the details of an epic tale of insurrection and destruction; "The Distance" is dauntless in its musical representation of the Norwegian landscape; and "Silence Surrounds" attests to the philosopher within us all surges forward when confronted with loss and regret.
Packed with expressive and impressive moments, Conspiracy In Mind peers into this Norwegian trio's indelible future. For those who appreciate heavy music, musicianship, and an escape from the confines of a restrictive world, invest a listen in COMMUNIC.
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