COURSE OF FATE – Mindweaver (2020)
COURSE OF FATE is a Norwegian sextet that formed back in 2003, but their debut album “Mindweaver” is just now releasing, seventeen years later. They already have some EP’s but it was time for a full-length, and they’ve been working on “Mindweaver” for the last six years.
I’m usually pretty cautious when it comes to finding progressive metal — the term really can mean just about anything — but Course Of Fate had me hooked within a minute of sampling the album with their catchiness and melodic approach. I just had to hear more.
It’s hard to not have high expectations for an album six years in the making, but I’m happy to say that Course Of Fate absolutely delivers here.
Mindweaver is a smooth rocker that weaves in and out of heaviness without ever shedding its progressive charm. At times catchy, at others overwhelmingly emotional, Course Of Fate are here to take you on a journey.
There’s a clear story to Mindweaver, one that makes this a very easy album to listen to from beginning to end. “There Is Someone Watching” is an opener done right — a mere 93 seconds long, it tells you everything you need to know about the concept straightaway. It’s intensely dramatic, surprisingly powerful, and would absolutely linger in the brain if not for the following track, “The Faceless Men Pt. I.”.
Soaring leads and dramatic organs bring the album proper to life in an upbeat way. Leads and vocal lines vie for your attention amidst a progressive melody that wouldn’t be so out of place on an Ayreon record.
Yes, Mindweaver is a lively piece of work, but the emotional core of the album is what keeps bringing me back. “Endgame” might have a killer chorus, but the ethereal synths and layered vocals that build up to it get me every time.
“Wolves” features some muscular riffs that are designed to get the heart pounding. Time and time again across the album, earnest performances accented by a gorgeous mix steal the spotlight, as though every band member is competing at once for your ear and your heart.
But it all pales against “Drifting Away,” the penultimate track and absolute highlight of the album. This is the ballad, and it pulls on the heartstrings with immense skill. Everything about it just works, and I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to praise Eivind Gunnesen’s fantastic vocal performance here.
While not strictly progressive metal – there’s hard rock touches and very melodic passages here – “Mindweaver” should be among the best releases of the year for the genre so far.
It’s an absolute blast, containing within its forty-five minutes a little bit of everything I like about this type of music. As far as debuts go, this one is simply great.
HIGHLY Recommended
1 – There Is Someone Watching
2 – The Faceless Men, Pt. I
3 – Endgame
4 – Utopia
5 – The Walls Are Closing In
6 – Wolves
7 – Drifting Away
8 – The Faceless Men, Pt. II
Eivind Gunnesen – Vocals
Kenneth Henriksen – Guitar
Marcus Lorentzen – Guitar
Carl Marius Saugstad – Keyboards
Daniel Nygaard – Bass
Per-Morten Bergseth – Drums
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