Artist/Band: Skyharbor
Album: Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos
Label: Basick Records
Mastered by: Keshav Dhar
Release Date: April 23, 2012
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Skyharbor’s Blinding White Noise: Chaos & Illusion is a 2 CD masterpiece, A carefully sculpted album by main man – guitarist Keshav Dhar with Anup Sastry on drums and Nikhil Rufus on bass and ex-TesseracT vocalist Dan Tompkins and also includes guests such as ex-Megadeath Axeman Marty Friedman, Vishal J. Singh (Amogh Symphony) and more.
This 2012 release is a cumulative of 4 years of work by Keshav Dhar. Another bedroom studio project to hit the main stage, now functioning as a wholly formed band. Though this is Skyharbor’s first release, Keshav and co. had been quite successful in building hype about the scene. The performance at the NH7 weekender at Pune last year allowed them to display their act in the spotlight.
The album consist of two parts – Chaos – Metal and Illusion – Progressive
Chaos is a three track display of Sky Harbor’s heart pounding, metal punching guitar driving abilities with vocals by Bhayanak Maut’s Sunnieth Revankar.
Chaos compliments and provides the aggression that Illusion deprives one of.
Double bass drumming by Anup Shastry will get one head banging in no time. An emphasis on order can be seen within the chaotic sounds of the band. Keshav present a blend ethereal, industrial, demonic riffs. Aphasia is a recommended one from this one. It creates a mind numbing effect filling one with absolute awe of its design.
Illusion is the subtle yet not passive side to Skyharbor’s release. Ex-TesseracT vocalist Dan Tompkins provides vocals for this part that forms 70 percent of the album. The progressive side of the album has incorporated various electronic elements as well.
Dots is the first track. It sets the tone for what to expect from this album. Cruncy distorted guitars and double bass drumming on this track are a treat. Order 66 continues along similar lines. A mix of electronic and acoustic drums has helped give the added atmospheric touch to this side. Along with additional effects that compliment it
The lyrics of the tracks are by Dan for large part of the album and portray the struggles of life and reflect their nonchalant way of dealing with it. The melodies are catchy yet does not drag all day in your mind unless one listen to it endlessly. Shifts in tempo and force marks out the various parts of the track well. Bordering on the genres of metal, Djent and alternative. A well packed metal album in terms of versatility and intensity. A delight to see that the metal scene in India is not only growing in size but also getting rich production wise. The vocalist requires a bit of getting used to. Nonetheless the vocals on some tracks fit well. Added enunciation by the vocalist adds a scheme of mystery into the tracks. The gelling of the band despite this being mainly Keshav’s brainchild to make them sound as a cohesive whole is remarkable.
A serious full time act with emphasis on stapling their own sound onto the metal scene in India. Considering the reviews so far they have been able to do so with ease. This album has already made its mark with it being compared to some of the top bands of the modern metal progressive scene.
Blind White Noise has already been nominated and won Album of the year @ MWD Awards 2012 along with its Label Basick Records taking accolades with best label.
