The advantage of streaming sites is that we discover artists similar to those who are already known to you and, for my next two columns, these are two formations that I discovered while surfing on spotify. The first opus is that of the French of 'Wedingoth' that I didn't know and who already have a good production since 'Five Stars Above' is their fourth studio recording. Released in early 2023, it is now available on streaming platforms and offers us varied compositions by merging rock and progressive metal, the whole benefiting from catchy melodic lines from the first listen. Their first three albums, 'Candellight', 'The Other Side' and 'Alone In the Crowd', from 2010, 2012 and 2016 respectively, are also available for streaming.
The first three titles follow one another and form only one for a little more than 15 minutes of listening: 'Dear Univers' welcomes us in atmospheric progressive which can recall the atmospheres of the album ' Atom Heart Mother' by 'Floyds' and which highlights the sweet singing and beautiful aerial vocalizations of 'Céline Staquet', then 'Masterpiece of Life' takes over to begin in a more energetic way and develops catchy melodic lines in a long instrumental introduction which continues with a sung part punctuated by a magnificent chorus and which presents a rhythm section bringing many changes of intensities and tempos, the long guitar solo of 'Steve Segarra' in the middle of the title being quite admirable. Without transition, the short 'Dear Man on Earth' closes this triptych by returning to the theme of the first title on a slow tempo embellished by beautiful choirs and a remarkable new guitar solo 'Gilmourien'. With 'Time', the soft piano introduction precedes a soothing sung section on a slow tempo which gains power for an epic and symphonic instrumental section, the second part again alternating a sung part in crescendo and an instrumental finale repeating the same sentence bringing a haunting side. More diversified at the rhythmic level and in the construction of the title, 'The Space Man' highlights more muscular saturated guitar riffs and brings a more striking progressive side, then, 'I Don't Care' continues on this path and flirt with progressive metal on a heavier rhythm, the melodic lines still being very catchy and 'Céline Staquet' shows that she also has good vocal power in more energetic atmospheres. With 'Cross the Mirror', we are still in a strong style, this time on a fast rhythm, but which alternates with more calm passages which brings a nice diversity in this title. We arrive at the second masterpiece of the album (if we also count the first three titles as one) with 'My Own Sacrifice' which is a magnificent progressive fresco mixing rock and metal and which takes us on board for 15 dense and inventive minutes with beautiful alternations between sung parts and instrumental sections, the fusion of Eastern and Western sounds bringing a remarkable richness to the whole and reminding me in certain places of the long developments of 'Edenbridge' and others, especially in the instrumental finale, the greatness of some titles of the 'Pink Floyds'. And to end on a quieter note, 'Love' offers us a very beautiful ballad that still reminds me of the most beautiful ballads of Edenbridge.
In summary, the French of 'Wedingoth' offer us a very beautiful progressive journey during which we travel through rich and varied landscapes, highlighting all the compositional talent of 'Steve Segarra'. This latest album 'Five Stars Above' should appeal to a whole progressive audience who likes to mix different styles and fans of beautiful melodic lines that catch on the first listen... | |
