Platitude
Silence Speaks

Platitude "Silence Speaks"
Metal Heaven - 2006, Power/Prog

IT'S COOL IN THE NORTH

It is said that Sweden is a great place. In the common stereotype, all the girls are gorgeous with natural blonde hair and big blue eyes that turn heads, and it doesn't matter if it's not exactly like that. Scandinavia is also appealing because it is located in a place that, in the collective imagination, is considered pure and untouched: in many ways wild, yet at the same time economically "advanced," with social security, state-of-the-art healthcare systems, and equal standing for women. People live long: maybe they preserve better with the cold that characterizes this land of the far north; but in the end, if we're in Stockholm, we're just a couple of spits away from Denmark, with which our dear Sweden is linked by a bridge over the sea about thirty kilometers long. Scandinavia has also produced many talented musical groups. Generalizing, (and skipping Denmark), Norway with its "slightly" remote and isolated fjords, is the meanest of the sisters, being largely devoted to the most extreme and heavy black metal. Finland, on the other hand, is lighter, lascivious, and melodic, lifting the colors of power metal, while Sweden has more rocky and glam tones. It should be clear that these are generalizations...

PLATITUDE

Today, I want to take you on a tour right up here to talk to you about an emerging band that only a few will know, dedicated to progressive hard rock. "Silence Speaks" is the third album, dated 2006, by Platitude. P-L-A-T-I-T-U-D-E. Doesn't ring a bell, does it? The Gobi Desert? Homer Simpson's brain? The sun on this day??? Don't worry: that can be remedied.

I still find it hard to believe that these guys have just crossed into their twenties as they are extremely mature and competitive in terms of composition. Guided by the pleasantly rough and chameleon-like voice of Erik Blomkvist, they come out with an album that isn't perfect, but is fascinating. Even very rough and decisive riffs coexist with a thick use of keyboards for dark-hued mid-tempos, which almost never explode into the usual crescendos but develop on the original tracks of a constant search for the best melody without ever descending into garishness and repetition. Tracks like "Falling Down" and "Tell The Truth" manage to combine captivating and strong metallic shades with elegant and reflective breaks that keep the attention high, very high, thanks to a skillful use of backing vocals and tempo variations.

The more progressive side reveals itself in "Fear (It's Over Now)", while the easier side is in the hit with fast tempos of "Don't Be Afraid". Therefore, an extremely mature proposal capable of satisfying the most refined palates of melodic hardrockers who do not want to succumb to boredom in front of the usual stereotypes. In many cases, when it would be reasonable to expect a solo, a break or a restart arrives ready to catch us off guard, and this is not insignificant. "You", for example, which puts the seal on the work, is simply surprising from this point of view. 7 minutes of high-quality progressive rock among time shifts, not at all fast but original and surprising solos supported by extremely varied singing that shows a respectable range and an ability to know how to use high and low tones and easily alternate a clean timbre with a dirty one with disarming ease.

CONCLUSION

I dedicate this review to Marco who introduced me to this unknown band, and I sincerely hope that someone can benefit from what is written. Personally, I find the sensation of discovering a new and talented band extremely rewarding, and I hope you can experience it too with this tip.

I. Tell The Truth
II. Nobody's Hero
III. Silence Speaks
IV. Empty Inside
V. Fear (It's Over)
VI. Don't Be Afraid
VII. Falling Down
VIII. After The Storm
IX. Walk With Me
X. You.