Neglected Fields offer some serious obstacles for metal music fans. However, those obstacles might prove to be insurmountable, as happened to me. Here's my problem: I do not like vocals on this album, not at all. Many reviewers have mentioned, how much the vocals are in resemblance of ex-Carcass throat Jeff Walker. Yes, I agree to some point, but Sergey "Destruction" sounds more like Donald Duck with severe throat infection. Plus his voice is quite ballsless. And like this wasn't enough, pronunciation is weird. This isn't my idea of extreme.

Neglected Fields' music is very unique, evading pigeonholing. This Latvian quartet mix metal and prog. Okay, better to name some metal bands (the stuff I know best) to create some kind of picture about NF: Norwegians Arcturus and Covenant (yup, known as The Kovenant nowadays, but as it's their 'Nexus Polaris' platter from 1998 that comes to my mind when listening to NF...) with their astro metal, prog band Ayreon and melodic metal like ye olde In Flames. NF do not directly sound like any of those bands, but my brain has built bridges between NF and them. The music here is twisting, but still holding nicely together. There is some patchy moments, but most of them smooth out with enough listening sessions. NF go from metal riffing to dramatic build-ups, to calm non-distorted parts and to bass song. Definitely interesting musical concepts, which open slowly.

Soundwise this is clean, but somewhat soulless. Especially drums sound lifeless because of The Abyss production. Synths balance between good and toyish. I strongly believe, that more punctual mixing would have bettered those lamer synth sounds. Good thing is, that the vocals are not on the front of the mix. Cover doesn't do justice to the multifaced music.

Musically (lyrics aren't totally clear to me as yet) interesting and offering its own kind of journey, but the vocals ruin a lot for me. However, those who seek for some different and tougher metal, should check out the band's website for samples.

Rating: 6½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
03/16/2005 14:31