Ghost Ship Octavius is a progressive/power metal band from
the USA, that feature Van Williams (Nevermore), Matt Wicklund (Warrel Dane). I
first read about Ghost Ship Octavius by way of an article I read a while back
featuring Nevermore’s Van Williams. It wasn’t long aft the band’s 2015
self-titled debut was released independently. Unfortunately, I had forgotten all
about the album being released and didn’t rediscover it until early 2018, but I
suppose better late than never, although after listening, I wish it had been
sooner rather than later.
The first thing that should be noted is that, even though
this is technically a three piece outfit, various guests assume lead guitar
roles throughout the album. Mattias Ia Eklundh (Freak Kitchen), Jeff Loomis
(Nevermore) and Chriss Caffrey (Savatage) all lend a hand in creating the final
product for the band.
As for the music, Ghost Ship Octavius’ blend of progressive
and power metal is much more on the heavier side of the equation. I would say
that power metal is far more noticeable than anything else, but the band uses a
varied approach to creating their sound, one that never gets stagnant, nor
lurks in one genre’s territory for too long. It would be hard not to compare
certain aspects of the band to Nevermore, for obvious reasons, but Ghost Ship
Octavius is no clone They create their sound through the use of crisp guitars, catchy
rhythms, powerful drums and clean vocals.
For instance, the opener “Saturn and Skies” begins with a
thick, groovy riff that hooks the listener immediately. The drums pound away,
offering a steady flow of beats and percussion that help carry the sound. The
rhythm and harmony of the guitars create a nice atmosphere of heavy power
metal, but also ease into passages of a more progressive sound reminiscent of
vintage Dream Theater. Newcomer Andon Fanion’s melodic vocals play wonderfully
with such a heavy sound, creating a pleasant contrast to aggressive riffs and
hammering drums.
That being said, not every song is driven by the aggressive
power/progressive sound. Although there is still a level of heaviness to be
heard in almost every song, “Mills of the Gods” offers a much more mellow
approach to their sound, allowing their progressive side to take center stage.
“In Dreams” offer a more traditional progpower sound, with Fanion singing in a
softer tone over a mid-paced riff and drums and building to a heavier chorus.
Although this far from being a landmark album, I can’t find
very much to be disappointed about “Ghost Ship Octavius” unless I made it a
point to. Which I’m not. Songs like
“Silence” and “Epitaph” are probably the weakest offerings on the album due to
the lack of hooks and overall memorability of the songs, but they are by no
means throw away tracks.
It’s easy to see why this band made some noise in progpower
circles upon its release (even though I was late to the party), as any fan of
Nevermore, Circle II Circle and even Dream Theater should find some enjoyment
from this release. The band shows they have the ability to create a catchy
blend of aggressive power metal with progressive overtones and should only
improve as they move forward.
Highlights: “Saturn and Skies” “Mills of the Gods” “Alive”
Rating: 3.5
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