Review: Edge of Reality – In Static

Style: jazz, progressive metal, Native Construct (clean vocals)
Review by: Dylan
Recommended for fans of: Native Construct, Thank You Scientist, Haken
Country: Tennessee, United States
Release date: 31 May 2019

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This review was originally published in the May 2019 issue of The Progressive Subway.]

In the year 2015, prog metal changed. This is because of Native Construct‘s only album, Quiet World. This album presented a very frantic style of metal, filled to the brim with polyrhythms, changes of pace, multiple styles of vocals and moods, all done around the idea that it all should feel like a metal musical. Not an opera, but a musical. What they’ve achieved is nothing short of amazing and got a shit ton of praise, but they sadly parted ways as a band so all we have left of them is this singular album. 

Why do I spend so much time talking about Native Construct? Because this band is trying to pick up the torch and carry it, but not at a 100% worshipping style. Yes, every element I mentioned about NC is here, but that doesn’t mean this band is creatively bankrupt like the many blatant DT worship bands Sam has reviewed over the years. In fact, In Static‘s problem is that it is actually, maybe, TOO creative. 

Look, I love Quiet World as much as the next guy, but that thing is hard to listen to. There’s so many things going on and so many abrupt changes that by the time the album reaches its conclusion I feel a little lost. Now imagine, if I felt a little lost at a 47 minute album, how do I feel about a 73 minute album that follows the same structure? 

Absolutely confused. If you’re gonna write a concept album that’s 73 minutes long, it can’t be constantly bringing new things to the table without a reprise, a chorus I can hang on too, a pretty melody that’s repeated more than once. It’s like they’re missing the moments that you remember in a Thank You Scientist album (“HOW I’VE ANTICIPATED YOUR RETUUUUUUURN, TO PLANET EAAAAARTH”). Some choruses are there, and when they are they’re wonderful such as in the track puzzle man, but they’re very few and far between. It just hurts so much because there really is a lot of potential. So let’s dive into it.

First of all, the vocals are fantastic. It’s like if you mixed Salvatore Marrano’s mid range with Ross Jenning’s high range. He knocks his performance out of the park. There is also very interesting usages of synths, the narrative is light hearted but relatively well done, some comedy is thrown in there and it actually works, the production value is exquisite… If there was a stronger sense of cohesion, we’d be talking about an AOTY contender. But sadly, this release just misses the mark. 

I recommend you check it out if you don’t struggle with loosely tied albums, and wanna be challenged. Maybe you’ll find something in this album I didn’t and it may click just fine with you! It just didn’t strike that chord with me, unfortunately.

Recommended tracks: Puzzle Man, Lovestruck
You may also like: Nova Collective, Artificial Silence
Final verdict: 6/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | RYM page

Label: Independent

Edge of Reality is:
– Joey Frevola (guitar)
– Jesse Brock (vocals)
– Jesse Peck (guitar)
– Nick Mills (bass)
– Brandon Center (drums)