Style: Heavy/Progressive Rock (Mixed vocals, mostly clean)
Review by: Chris
Country: Canada (Saskatoon)
Release date: 11 May, 2021
A Denisovan, as I definitely knew way before ever picking up this album, is an archaic human species that existed a long time ago. More importantly, it is the name of the debut album by Saskatoon musician Devin Martyniuk under the mantle Before & Apace. From what I gather Martyniuk has been constructing this album in an on and off manner for some 10 odd years or more before finally settling into where it lands now, a collection of 4 songs spanning almost an hour in total. It’s definitely a hefty debut release in terms of length, but I would say it is not the hardest to digest in full despite that.
The Denisovan, as indicated by the creator’s own nod to a Tool influence, is an album very built on repeating riffs and themes in songs, building them as the songs goes with slight alterations and flavors to push the song along and tread new ground. I wouldn’t say it falls into this quite to the point Tool does, but it is very apparent that is a preferred song writing manner of Martyniuk. This album’s writing is approached almost like a symphony with its thematic writing, repetition with slight alteration, and programmatic structuring.
A symptom of this in the more modern world of music is you will know what you are going to get on any of these songs (for the most part) in their first few minutes. The opening track “Zeno”, while really beginning. with some good old ambiance, hits. you with a riff at 1:45 or so that is the main basis for things yet to come. Yes, there is a drop out at the 2 minute mark into a slightly different riff, but it’s of the same family. Similarly, the very beginning of “Limbics” showcases a triplet rhythm riff that will continually show its head throughout the song, either exactly as first presented or slightly altered. Like I said, this is true for all 4 songs so I won’t harp on it any longer.
So where are the standouts? I’d say The Denisovan thrives most in the moments it either furthest deviates. from original themes, or the moments it most sells out to the original established theme. Obviously these are two vastly different sides to like. For example, the peak of “Limbics” is around 5:40, where the main theme has returned, sometimes randomly half timed while the vocals play much more over it with fleeting falsetto lines or brief screaming bouts. The immediate next part of the song, where the theme is dropped to just a long drawn out electric part is similarly also up there in terms of what works on the song. I do get the sense that the fourth song “Simultanagnosia” is meant to serve as a tie-together piece for the other three, which initially don’t have the most in common with each other. “Simultanagnosia” takes bits and pieces from each and redefines them slightly in contet of a new song, which helps tie an otherwise slightly disjointed album together.
I do have to admit I’m not usually much of a fan of the Tool style of writing in general, so this album has some issues landing for me in a lot of places. A lot of themes and opening lines, while cool in themselves, really become a bit dull in the repetitions. “Limbics” plays on the same riff for around half of its 9 minute runtime, which can get a bit taxing. “Zeno” plays on its opening theme for 5 odd minutes before really hitting a groove. I found myself enjoying with a groovy bass driven section. Overall I felt the album, while well grounded in what it wanted to achieve, is one of those things that just won’t fully jive with some people. The performances and sounds are excellent, I think I just found myself a bit dragged by the style of presentation and writing they were supporting.
This album definitely has some great moments, but as one might would expect of a 4 track hour long album, it has some issues of pacing and drawn-out-ness, which take away from the experience. I definitely enjoyed it overall, but I would find it a bit harder to return to over and over or to highlight a specific track with the length in mind. While the last track does tie the whole album together as previously mentioned, that is a long time to wait for a more cohesive feel.
Recommended tracks: Limbics
Recommended for fans of: Karnivool, Tool
Final verdict: 6/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook
Label: Independent
Before & Apace is:
– Devin Martyniuk (guitar/vocals)
Album only performers:
– Bryce Holcomb (vocals/guitar)
– Kaylon Disiewich (bass)
– Arlan Kopp (drums)
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