DISTORTED HARMONY – Chain Reaction (2014)

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At times I find myself baffled when I come across a band that remains unsigned. Israel’s DISTORTED HARMONY is one such act; a modern, liquid take on Progressive Metal, 2014 seeing the release of their second album “Chain Reaction“.
To fall in love at first listen with a band, should speak wonders about the quality of their music.

On this new record, Distorted Harmony come across as a mature, skilled, and really aware of what they want to play. Their first album leaned heavily on Dream Theater at times, but “Chain Reaction” has thrown off that mantle almost completely.
Gone are the technical (even cheesy) piano lines that Yoav Efron played with such skill, and in comes a darker, more subtler synth, though there are some piano lines that still serve a warm purpose in slower, more dramatic portions.
While there is still much finger work from guitarist Guy Landau, the guitars are heavier, more stuttering, and more riff oriented. Iggy Cohen on bass has changed into a composer of funky and appropriate bass lines that are foundational to the music. Lastly, Yogev Gabay on drums may have changed the least, and that’s just fine. His delicate but kinetic style abounds with flourishes and skill that I really enjoy.
As a whole, the band plays furiously and their virtuosity shows, but their technical prowess comes together in such a way that they all sound like one unit, creating impressive walls of sound and also delicate reflective moments.

Vocalist Misha Soukhinin is back, and he’s better than ever. His voice was somewhat controversial the first time around, as some people claimed his voice is ‘too much poppy, commercial’. And you know what? It definitely is not a metal voice, and that is a huge compliment.
His mid-range is fantastic remembering at times a hard rock singer, his unique personality is a strong as ever, and his maturity in skill is becoming more apparent. Misha is destined to be one of the best, and, besides, he’s hilarious.
Speaking of pop, though, I must point out of the biggest shifts for “Distorted Harmony” here is the pop and alternative influences that show themselves in catchier sections, ultra-polished grooves, raw riffing and choruses, and an accessibility that is strange for a prog metal album.

Take as example opener “Every Time She Smiles”, treading the fine line between commercial / catchy, and otherworldly / unorthodox. The introduction is constructed of a blissfully engaging myriad of sounds and a build-up that subtly grows in power, with chord progressions grabbing at you like hands with sheathed claws. The riffs smack you in the face with that unmistakably proggy embellishment of fluent and plentiful licks.
This shift in sound from the cliched prog metal is extremely welcome for me, and I’m very proud that Distorted Harmony has gone out on a limb.

As the album progresses, we get a great taste of all sorts of tones and sounds, from the heaviness of “Children of Red” to the genius but groovy instrumental “Nothing (but the Rain)” and from the ballad structure of “As You Go to the ethereal to climactic bombast of “Methylene Blue”, which starts out soft and surreal and progresses to an amazing instrumental climax.
I must comment on the track “Misguided” too, with an original arrangement, especially the funky little bass exercise they added towards the end.

“Chain Reaction” is a very well paced album, diverse, concise, and very deep lyrically. I feel that Distorted Harmony really selected the best compositions they wrote, and created some very different artwork.
Musically this a prog metal album, but one looking for new horizons in the arrangements, melodies, different in purpose and style.
“Chain Reaction” is the most interesting progressive metal album thus far in 2014, supplying both creativity and accessibility, and therefore, entertaining.
Very Recommended.

01 – Every Time She Smiles
02 – Children of Red
03 – Misguided
04 – Nothing (But the Rain)
05 – As One
06 – Hollow
07 – As You Go
08 – Natural Selection
09 – Methylene Blue
10 – Blue (new mix with orchestra) [hidden track]

Misha Soukhinin – Vocals
Guy Landau – Guitars
Yoav Efron – Keyboards
Iggy Cohen – Bass
Yogev Gabay – Drums
Oren Shani, Miki Nadiv – Orchestration
thanks to Second Life Syndrome

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