Sieges Even
Paramount

Let's define the concept of beauty. First characteristic is subjectivity; no one can say that a thing or a person is beautiful in absolute terms. Secondly, aesthetic pleasure. Thirdly, all the nuances, the features that go beyond mere appearance. Such a discussion, in my opinion, is as applicable to people as it is to music, a product that increasingly bases beauty on catchy melodies (indispensable most of the time) and on an "aesthetic" aspect that often contributes to granting the product in question undeserved fame and success.

Then, there are bands that make music in which one can indeed find the more "aesthetic" aspect with easy-listening melodies from time to time, but that also attempt to put together more complex, less direct music, making the album more elaborate and intricate, allowing its beauty to be discerned only after repeated listens; it's in this category that the latest work from the German band Sieges Even, "Paramount" released last year, falls, which has somewhat revived the fortunes of the progressive rock/metal market thanks to its beauty.

There's no need to beat around the bush; this platter indeed has tangible, fairly evident qualities. The musicians are all extremely well-prepared, the vocals beautifully complement the melodies, the orchestrations are all extremely melodious, yet they possess the right vigor to ensure "Paramount" does not present itself as another limp and lackluster album like many others cluttering the current market. The CD features an extremely varied list of songs, with a duration never overly stretched out and with an appropriate blend of airy and calm pieces and heavier ones, featuring numerous changes in atmosphere even within a single piece, as demonstrated by the opening song, "When Alpha And Omega Collide", capable in its first part of open atmospheres and choruses that hint at a strong sense of hope, "dampened" later in the second part by decidedly darker and sadder moments. Taking a small leap to the third track, we arrive at the song that struck me the most, "Eyes Wide Open": played on the alternation of acoustic and electric parts, this track manages to exude tranquility and a comforting sense of peace, both in its extremely rhythmic and relaxing verses (with a bass backdrop truly impactful in its simplicity) and in the nearly shouted, liberating chorus, where Arno Menses demonstrates great expressive ability, as well as a vocal range that would make many more famous colleagues envious. On the same coordinates moves the following "Iconic", a mix of pop/rock, progressive, and some distant echoes of jazz, truly a little gem.

As mentioned before, in this album they do not forget their metal roots, and here emerges "Leftlovers", one of the longest tracks on the LP, very powerful and "threatening" in its progression, endowed with strong and decisive riffs and squared rhythms, always ready to accelerate when required. The only contrasting element turns out to be the backing vocals, reminiscent of those of the immortal Queen by Freddy Mercury.

Spending more words on the content of the album seems a bit excessive, as I wouldn’t want to take away the sense of surprise at listening to this platter. However, I'd like to emphasize the exceptional production work, which, thanks to the excellent resources available (let's not forget the presence of the Holzwarth brothers in the project, which, considering the bands they belong to, means greater availability of funds) manages to produce a record with very clean sound, where each instrument has its space to express itself, without sounding plastic or artificial.

Therefore, approved without the slightest remorse, with joy in the heart of having been able to listen to a truly top-quality product, where there’s never the slightest drop in tension.

P.S. as a highlight, note the presence of Martin Luther King's touching speech in "Mounting Castles In The Blood Red Sky", which makes this semi-instrumental even more interesting.

Line-up:
Arno Menses - Vocals
Markus Steffen - Guitars
Oliver Holzwarth - Bass
Alex Holzwarth - Drums

Tracklist:
1) When Alpha And Omega Collide
2) Tidal
3) Eyes Wide Open
4) Iconic
5) Where Our Shadows Sleep
6) Duende
7) Bring To The Divine
8) Leftlovers
9) Mounting Castles In The Blood Red Sky"
10) Paramount