'Naryan' is a Finnish progressive rock formation who released at the end of 2020 a new studio recording 'The Withering' which is their 3rd album, after 'Naryan' in 2013 and 'Black Letters' in 2016. Led by guitarist 'Lauri Kovero', they have experienced many line up changes since their inception and 'Naryan' is now made up of 'Lauri Kovero' and 'Raino Ketola' on guitar, 'Tonuni Niemi' on vocals, of 'Antli Valiniemi' on bass, of 'Tommi Tanhuanpaa' on drums, of 'Eveliina Sydanliihde' on piano and flute and of 'Nona Onnda' on violin, and this new opus sees several guests complete the line-up with including orchestral and choir instruments. In melancholic and relaxing atmospheres, they offer us 10 melodic titles in a rock mixing progressive and symphonic in which the instrumental arrangements highlight the strings and the piano, the electric instruments bringing the rhythmic base and beautiful deep bass and in which the vocal arrangements are equally remarkable.
The instrumental 'The End' begins in a romantic atmosphere brought by the depth of the cellos and the piano arpeggios, then, 'You Are The One' continues with a bewitching melody with beautiful alternations between acoustic and electric parts , 'Tonuni Niemi' on vocals presenting a beautiful vocal palette and 'Now You're Gone' continues in this feeling of melancholy with new melodic lines which envelop you and rock you in an addictive slow tempo. Follows the short instrumental 'IV' which serves as an introduction to 'Black Swan', further increasing the emotional cursor with a new masterful vocal performance then we stay on the little cloud on which we were climbed with 'Until We Meet Again' which completely takes us and causes this small thrill so characteristic of an intense listening happiness and 'Hear Me Now' continues in the same register by adding the bewitching voice of 'Maria Opoku-Aikins' which forms a magical duet with 'Tonuni Niemi'. The end of the album is on the same level with, first of all, 'Room of Angel' which can recall the very soft side of certain compositions of 'Mono Inc., the voice of 'Tonuni Niemi' reminiscent of the deep vocals of 'Martin Engler', then, 'The World Is Filled With Silence' offers us a new moving melody with magnificent choirs magnifying the whole, 'Takamaa' closing this magnificent album with a song in Finnish unrolling melancholy melodic lines one last time.
In summary, the 'Finns' of 'Naryan' release an album of immense depth that can only touch and if you are a lover of beautiful, bewitching and melancholic melodies giving off a real emotion or that you like a peaceful and relaxing progressive rock with artists like 'Rick Miller', 'Esthesis', 'starfish64' or 'David Minasian' to name only recent reviews on myprogmusic, this 'The Withering' is done for you. | |
