Inavoid - Inavoid (demo)



1. In a Void (6:24) 2. Brindisi (5:56) 3. Forgave (6:19)

Total Running Time: 18:40

Denmark has for a long time been nothing more than a small spot on the metal map, shyly paling in comparison to its Scandinavian peers and bringing to mind nothing more than a few bands such as Mercyful Fate, D.A.D, Pretty Maids, and Royal Hunt. Before you even fancy the thought of this review being about this status' nearby change, forget it. Chances are worse than slim that Denmark will ever have a remotely important movement in the fields of metal, and the day that happens is the day we all see Prince Charles wearing a pink tutu (then again…given the possibilities…). The members of Inavoid, however, are certainly not about to be stopped by national apathy.

Carrying the flag of progressive metal, and one that owes more than just a hint to early Fates Warning, Inavoid specializes in heavy riffs and classy guitar harmonies half baptized in a pool of almost medieval darkness, the other half immersed in hellfire, but none heavy or radical enough to reminisce the virulent anti-commercial bend of trends such as death metal. Instead, the approach focuses on a somewhat dark guitar-oriented series of complex riffs and powerful harmonized breaks, much like the aforementioned Fates Warning on its classic Awaken the Guardian (with a healthy touch of The Spectre Within). A good thing given the fact that not many bands are playing this way anymore, a not so good one considering that a dash of originality is urgently needed here.

Don't jump to conclusions and assume that Inavoid does nothing more than being a clone, however, because that is not the case. While it is true that the Danish act is still far away from cutting its umbilical cord from the womb of early Fates Warning, the only truly shocking moments of unoriginality occur during "In a Void," after which things get to relatively more unique territory and stay there for the most part. Furthermore, the effect is dampened by the vocals on the album, which are a long cry from those of John Arch. Aside from the need for further stylistic development and what sometimes comes across as too great a disjointedness in matters of arrangements (particularly regarding the drums), however, Inavoid is a band with promise and with a surprising ability to craft heavy, dark, and intricate twin guitar prog metal. If only its members manage to separate those advantages from the useless weight, they should be doing just fine.

-by Marcelo Silveyra

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