Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon (2007)

Phideaux produced a classic concept album in the tradition of the great works of the 70s, that amazes and demands respect, an exuberant concept work unfolds on this album, the dark doom and gloom artfully combined with hopeful/ lively prog arrangements. It is a perfect work with a complete orchestra, various 'exotic' solo instruments, roaring organs, vintage synths, elegiac guitar solos, elaborate choir singing. On "Doomsday Afternoon" Phideaux indulges in epic spheres. The album is a single suite-like work with connected tracks in two acts with five songs in each of them, that build on each other dramaturgically.

Act I: "Micro Softdeathstar" starts the album in an calm atmosphere, through soft vocals and a serene piano, but soon followed by heavier vocals. The violin is simply heartbreaking. The flourishes of the strings and all the inverts of the band shows incredible magnificence. "The Doctrine of Eternal Ice (Part One)" has thunderous chords with very high bass - especially at the beginning - and superb piano work. There is an explosion of synthesizers that is sensational. "Candybrain "starts with a very threatening theme, guitar, organ and flute add a great and excellent variety of textures. "Crumble" is composed of a piano with beautiful notes accompanied by a chorus of soft voices. "The Doctrine of Eternal Ice (Part Two) ", an electric and melancholic piano combined with a very soft vocal and a bit of synthesizer, are some of the main ingredients of this second part. Act II: "Thank You For The Evil" begins with a heavy drums, soon accompanied by a bass and guitar that draw a path of threatening atmosphere (dark way of creating the instrumentation) on the track. "A Wasteland Of Memories" starts to flow exactly from the orchestration left by the previous track. This song has an exuberant and magnificent opening, followed by some theatrical vocals. "Formaldehyde" represents perfect instrumentation, ranging from the guitar to the flute. The synthesizer and organ blooms in constant shots. "Microdeath Softstar" has again delicate vocals and an organ that seems distant, but that shines,

The sweeping orchestral arrangements, are the icing on the cake in a multi-layered production. Violins, cellos, trumpets, oboes and French horns create a smoldering cosmos permeated by classic prog passages, subtle space sounds, with fascinating light-footed melodies and polyphonic, well-arranged vocal parts. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the music is of an outstanding quality.

~ PROG_TRAVELLER!!, Prog Archives