Tag: conception

This is the Norwegian band’s first album, released back in ’91. They were a more straight ahead metal band at this point, before the huge progressive vibes came to the fore. Nice to see that they have remastered these reissues specifically for vinyl, as they were originally CD only releases, and I have to say they sound great.

Prevision kicks things off, then it’s straight in with Burning A Force – the double kicks blasting in with a suitably metal riff to match. It has an interesting middle section with some killer playing. War Of Hate has a very odd intro with Spanish guitar flurries before the metal arrives, and Khan supplying the drama with that oh so distinctive voice. The Spanish influence returns in the instrumental middle eight. Bowed Down With Sorrow is up next and the pace slows right down with the slow riff repeating over and over.

Side 2 opens up with Fairy’s Dance, a metal take on a folk themed vibe – a very cool tune. Another World starts with a great choppy riff that sounds a tad like Metallica in places, and towards the end it turns into a Sabbath-style doom fest. Elegy follows and it’s an instrumental track with a Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here vibe. The title track is up next and it’s my favourite track. It’s the one song on the album which points to what is to come. Killer vocal!! Live To Survive starts with some old school thrash riffage in fact it’s what drives the whole tune. Among The Gods is the last proper track on the album. Great riffage with the return of the flamenco influence, mixed with that slight Metallica vibe. Side 4 is given over to three demos: Midnight Sun, Bound To Suffer, and By Dawns Early Night – which are all killer.

A great band that thankfully are back together again.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 28 years since this masterpiece was unleashed on the world. This was Conception’s third release and it is my favourite. Falling under the banner of progressive metal, this Norwegian band were formed in ’89.

The album opens up with Under A Mourning Star, a superb fat chugga riff and driving groove get things rolling, but it’s that haunting melody and hook that really grab you. Missionary Man follows, and again a superb riff but with a much slower groove, and the vibe is very dramatic. It keeps on being amazing as the riff at the intro to Retrospect is just awesome and Khan’s vocal talents are there for all to hear. Tore Ostby’s solo is short but killer. Guilt closes out Side 1, the riff is deep slow and heavy, as is the groove.

The epic ballad Sanctuary opens up Side 2 and Khan’s opera training is very evident on this piece. It’s favourite track time next as A Million Gods bursts into life. A monster riff coupled with an insane groove drives this beast along pausing for the vocal, then when they combine together… man does that hit the spot. Some Wounds is next up and closes out Side 2. A pounding bass before a simple chugga riff with a killer swing on the groove.

A kick ass syncopated groove with keys, bass, and drums open up Carnal Comprehension, the hook and melody are beautiful and definite goosebumps moment for sure, add to that the epic middle section … this band are soooo good. Onto Solar Serpent we go, an odd bass and drum groove open up the tune to what is mostly a normal hard rock song. The title track is next up, a very dramatic intro with a slow heavy groove until the big guitar kicks in and then it’s all about the vocal. This would normally be the end of the album, but on this version we get three extra tracks. The first of which is Move Closer, a slow acoustic piece with a killer vocal and matching solo. Next is a demo of In Your Multitude, a drier sounding version with more guitar. The last song is Gravity, and it’s a belter. A killer, fast, choppy, and chugga riff coupled with a killer groove. Not sure why this never appeared on the original album, as it would have fit onto a CD.

So there it is, an awesome album from a killer band.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

A big pat on the back to Noise Records for reissuing the first four Conception albums. I’m a big fan of In Your Multitude and this beauty, Flow. Extra bonus points for putting unreleased material on the fourth side instead of the pointless etched side. If Prog metal is your thing and you don’t own this, then I suggest adding it to your collection.

Gethsemane gets us under way, the beautiful melody and cool guitar is just haunting. Superb opening track! Angel is a lot heavier, that riff is epic and what a killer vocal from Roy Khan. This album is a lot more accessible than previous efforts with the melodies and hooks being a lot more prominent. A Virtual Love Story mixes the crunch with the melody perfectly. I love the bass groove in the middle section.

The title track opens up Side 2 and the this is about as commercial as the band have ever been, it’s my favourite track on the album. A superb melody and hook, and the vocal is just superb. Cry is a slower number with emphasis on the vocal and an almost hip hop beat. Reach Out starts with an electronic drum groove and fuzzed bass, then the song falls into a very heavy riff and choppy groove. A very heavy slow groove and riff to Tell Me When I’m Gone. It sounds killer!!!

Side C starts with Hold On, it is almost medieval in its sound with harpsichord and strings. Cardinal Sin is a close second for the best track award. I love the main melody and hook, it’s a goosebump moment for sure. Big shout out to guitarist Tore Ostby whose playing throughout is killer. The album properly closes out with Would It Be The Same, a heavy dose of the chuggas kicks things along, and as with every song on the album the melody and hooks are huge.

Side 4 is bonus material with a demo of Cry, the very heavy Hand On Heart which is awesome, and Sundance which is a latin acoustic romp. The band would fold after this and Khan would jump to Kamelot, and Ostby would start up the short loved Ark with John Lande. Superb album!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

Conception are responsible for releasing two of my favourite albums from the progressive metal genre: In Your Multitude, and Flow. After the release of Flow, Roy Khan left to join US band Kamelot. This, in my opinion was a huge step backward as they were nowhere near the quality of Conception, but (what do I know?), he stayed with them for nearly twenty years. Tore Ostby went on to form Ark, with the amazing Jorn Lande. Then after twenty years, Khan left Kamelot and Conception was back up and running with the release of the EP, My Dark Symphony, and then recording this beauty, State Of Deception.

So after all these years, can the band still cut it? Well, the answer is a resounding: YES! Roy Khan’s vocals still sound as epic as ever, and Ostby’s guitar sound and riffs are better than ever. Waywardly Broken is what I’ve been missing for all these years. Huge fat guitar sound and that voice! No Rewind is as epic as I remember. Super epic riffs and complicated grooves is what I like, and this track delivers huge. If you are a lover of the grandiose operatic style of tune, then The Mansion will be right up your street. Lovers of old Conception won’t be disappointed with She Dragoon, as it feels like a track from In Your Multitude, with that deliciously twisted riff that only Ostby can do.

Is this record on par with my two favourite releases? Honestly, I would say no, but those two albums are exceptional releases and this is a really good album – it just doesn’t quite reach the heights of those two. Hopefully they will carry on, as my musical world is much better for having them in it.

9/10 from The Grooveman.