Will the number 13 turn out to be bad? After all, it’s considered THE bad omen for most of the world. Loki managed to get Baldur1 killed after arriving as the 13th guest at a dinner in Valhalla. Or – Judas served as the 13th participant at the last supper, allegedly.2 So, there’s a certain unease about that number in Western Culture, which is often associated with bad luck.
But. There’s always a ‘but’, right? 13 undoubtedly wasn’t an unlucky number for the latest Black Sabbath record. And in Italy, so I’m told, the numeric sign for bad luck is 17. And the thirteen is considered lucky.
Now, Innervoid is indeed the 13th record of a band with an impressive career. So, let the number stand for a terrific record and no portent of impending disaster. Dark clouds or bright sunlight? Let ‘er roar.
Well, there’s a new-found spring in Eldritch‘s step, that’s for sure. Innervoid brings you fresh fare combining the exuberance of Fellowship and the sing-along prowess of Arrayan Path with its Cypriot charm. Most of those kudos go to the new frontman Alex Jarusso whose stellar performance dazzled the cranky old geezers at the RMR review desk more than once. And while the band’s offering is way less cluttered than before, they also made power prog for the masses. A product that will please the faceless masses of the mainstream with a penchant for Power and Progressive Metal better than EOS ever did.
But mind you, Eldritch didn’t lose its bite altogether. This still ain’t weak fare that rock radio will play easily. There’s lots of material with brutal thrashy prog power that sails pretty close to the long-defunct Nevermore. Look no further than Handful of Sand (Right or Wrong) if you’re on the lookout for some feisty Loomis fix. Also, Innervoid artfully scatters spots of outstanding shredding and great solos throughout the record (Born On Cold Ash, for instance).
You’ll find a few gems of stellar prog scattered all along the tracklist. To The End, for example, ran on our music machine more times than it needed with its rough-hewn proggy power. A track that would stand proud on any album of the great Caligula’s Horse. And you get it all – from accessible to the fastidious prog geek kind. Some of you may favor Elegy of Lust with its accessible airs, for instance. But that annoying commercial aspect is exactly its weak point. The song is a neat listen, true. But it won’t offer much substance after all.
And it’s indeed that commercial bug that makes Innervoid somewhat lose a bit of its luster towards the end. Case in point, the label decided to sponsor yet another video for Black Bedlam a few days ago for what is one of the blandest songs on an otherwise snazzy tracklist. Some deep cuts on an otherwise great tracklist would have made a world of difference. Need an example? From the Scars left us stone cold. So, removing both of them would have turned this tracklist into a wild ride without end.
But apart from the aforementioned negatives, Innervoid stands proud. The RMR crew loved the new-found exuberance, the soaring vocals, and outstanding guitar work. And woven into all that jazz is some creative prog that rivals the best in the field. All of this comes with boundless energy and a freshness that is astonishing for a band that old. After all, Eldritch are out and about since 1991, so that means something. In short, Innervoid just beat EOS by leaps and bounds – and cranked the gears up a few turns.
Well done – and recommended.
Record Rating: 7/10 | Label: Scarlet Records | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 17 November 2023