RENDEZVOUS POINT – Solar Storm

Rendezvous Point, which is a Norwegian progressive metal band consisting of members from ICS Vortex, Borknagar, and Solefald, recently unleashed its debut album entitled "Solar Storm", and I must admit that I find most of the 7 songs that make up the album quite intriguing and interesting. Way too many progressive metal bands suck monkey dick and are only interested in showing you how technically adept they are in terms of handling their instruments, Rendezvous Point is, luckily, totally different to those other lame bands. Even though there are countless twists and turns throughout "Solar Storm", there is a constant emphasis on atmosphere and melody. These guys never lose sight of what constitutes a good song and what songwriting is actually about. I really dig the vocals as they have a melancholic tinge to them that somehow envelop and run through the entire thing without letting go. They have this haunting quality to them that I cannot put into words.

The album is incredibly varied and unpredictable; some parts are downright sad, some have an uneasy vibe to them, some are catchy, and others are pleasantly bizarre. A lot of ground is covered on a musical level, but it never turns into a confusing mess. In other words, focus is retained at all times.

Although I am not completely and utterly blown away by "Solar Storm", which is to say that it is neither monumental nor all-out brilliant, it is a strong, coherent, and nicely introspective record.

https://rendezvouspoint.bandcamp.com/