Conception
Re:Conception

The day has finally arrived!

20 years seem to have passed in a flash when I listen to the first notes of what for many, myself included, seemed like a mirage, a forbidden dream, a hope that died over the years and was reignited a few months ago and honestly sounded more like an unfounded rumor than reality, but the truth is one: Conception is back!!!!

Roy Sætre Khantatat, known as Roy Khan on vocals, Tore Østby on guitars, Ingar Amlien on bass, and Arve Heimdal on drums have given us a year-end gift, a single full of nostalgia and melody accompanied by a true renaissance that precedes the EP My Dark Symphony by about twenty days.

The sound of Arve's cymbals welcomes us with the instrumental title track alongside a heart that beats slowly yet inexorably, the distant notes of violins urge on, and within seconds we are captivated by one of the most beautiful voices in the history of metal introducing us to Grand Again.

Everything! You can hear everything the Conception enthusiasts expect to hear. Drums, guitar, and bass in a splendid and rhythmic musical blend in... well, in Conception style. The melodic opening of the chorus with the clear and controlled singing as only Roy knows how to do, immediately sticks in your head, then it moves to a paced bridge followed by a goosebump-inducing melodic solo! Perhaps many who are used to "metallic" and fast metal won't agree with me (and surely the two decades of waiting have hyped me up a lot), but this sounds splendid to my ears, and I already rank it among the best tracks in their discography!

The melody and dreamy atmospheres of Feather Moves take me back in time once again, it truly seems like all these years haven't passed. This time it's Ingar's bass accompanying the vocal melodies with an excellent ballad without half-measures: pathos, goosebumps, and heart, a lot, a whole lot of heart.

I conclude this review, which may have said everything or nothing, by simply telling you this: listen to it even if you don't like it, you will have still listened to beautiful music, trust me!