Planets: An Otherworldly Album.
Four years on from their 2001 self titled hit, Adema (forefront modern rock band) return with a new line-up and a fiery new album that cannot fail to impress even the most cynical listener. Adema have obviously grown in the last four years and their new album, Planets, proves that experience and years of playing the music scene bring out a much more mature, powerful feel to the way a band sounds. Planets explores plenty of new horizons and pushes the older elements of their already distinctive sound to the very edge of the respective limits.
Undoubtedly the biggest change Adema have undergone is the change in their vocalist, swapping Marcy Chavez with Luke Caraccioli. At first I was dubious and put off listening to this new offering from this multimillion selling band but I was wrong in doing do. Instead of the gruff yet wonderfully melodic vocals of Chavez, Caraccioli's powerful and dinstinctive voice adds a touch of something heavenly into the mix. Caraccioli has one of those voices that can only be described as diverse, extremely capable of applying the perfect tone of voice the right mood. While his voice mostly has a wonderfully deep and mysterious quality, it is also capable of being gruff and as sharp as a cold steel kitchen knife when the music requires this of him. The result of this is a more mature, diverse and incredibly harmonious improvement to Adema's already distinctive sound, a sheer display of professional creativity and emotive passion.
Yet something that perhaps creates even more of an impact is the almost complete change in mood and overall sound of Adema's style of playing. To say that it has simply become matured and refined with aged is a huge understatement; it is something much larger, much deeper than that. The mood behind Planets is a far cry from their self-titled release. While Adema was rough, grating, aggressive and raw, Planets explores a softer side to their sound. It is almost as if Adema are exploring new worlds and limits within their musical abilities, and indeed the album itself takes on a much more emotive feel then the last. Their mood has changed from the gruff, grungy setting of Adema to something much more otherworldly. Their sound still retains the old elements and aspects that made Adema so great in the first place but it also brings in a darker, moodier side. Their sound can be described as nothing short of dark, atmospheric and emotional, a distinctive feel almost on par with the mood that A Perfect Circle create in their music. Planets has an ethereal, stellar aura surrounding its melodic and harmonic lines, proving to be an appropriate and fitting offering for it's title. Planets also displays a much more melancholic, chilling mood while also still exploring the older and heavier music of their self titled album. The overall result here though is that this heavier, more upbeat material is toned down with a melancholic and mysterious atmosphere, adding a chilling yet experienced touch to the music.
The album kicks off with 'Shoot the arrows', a fast paced, raging introduction combining all the skill of the old album with the atmospheric qualities of the new style. This song is infectious with its aggression and Caraccioli's vocals soar above the sliding, powerful guitar lines that are as fluid and flowing as a raging river. This song also shows off the wonderful bass-orientated side of Adema at a newly improved higher level. The bassist shows tremendous skill, handling aggressive hammer-ons and sinfully wicked slides with tremendous skill and flair. Indeed it is the bass that upholds much of the atmospheric qualities in the music but without the various beautiful effects that flutter and fall upon ears like soothing rain on bare skin, showering melancholic harmonies upon the soul. It is in songs such as 'Barricades in time' and 'Sevenfold' that this is particularly evident and is shown off at its highest level of emotion and power but by far and away the best song on the album has to be 'Remember' followed closely by 'Planets'. 'Planets' is beautifully atmospheric, painting a picture of a stellar love broken by the pains of time. Wonderfully driving, powerful and moving, it steals the heart and blows the mind. Wistful guitars and beautiful effects compliment the melancholic vocals as the bass keeps the song steady and beating on. 'Remember' follows on from this, starting odd with an almost nostalgic mood, the song kicks in with the most emotive and powerful overdriven guitars you've heard in a while. The song is very much about fallen, failing relationships and the loss of someone dear and this theme is painted all over each instrumental part. The emotion packed into the line "Life just gets in the way" says it all. A perfect description for a familiar feeling.
This stunning album proves that Adema are still very much at the forefront of the scene and this latest release is both guaranteed to secure new fans and satisfy already dedicated followers of this extremely varied and talented band. A beautiful album.