Short Reviews [Chest Rockwell - 2020 - "Ghost of a Man Still Alive"]

US band CHEST ROCKWELL has been a going entity for more than 15 years, but with the majority of their output appearing prior to 2015. "Ghost of a Man Still Alive" is the first new material to be delivered by the band since 2014, and as with all their other albums it was self-released by the band. In this case the band is just one man though, as the main creative force behind Chest Rockwell, Josh Hines, has been doing everything himself on this occasion. With the blessing of his band mates I understand. As such this may well be described as a solo album of sorts, but issued under the name of one of the bands Hines is a member of. Those familiar with Chest Rockwell from previous occasions will find themselves in sort of familiar territories straight away. Sort of, as the band's history of defying genre boundaries remains a constant this time around as well but with a harder, darker and more metal oriented edge to the music delivered. Mix and production resides sort of a place of lo-fi territories, with a slightly closed in sound as an identity mark throughout, but with good balance and separation of instruments and with contrasting elements set up to function well. Not a Steven Wilson production by any means, but very much more than a demo tape too. The most important bit is that this aspect works, is functional and that it suits the music explored. But it's not an album for strict audiophiles. We are treated to an amalgam of genres and genre details mixed together in quite the exotic stew here. Traces of alternative rock and indie rock are paired off with bombastic, dramatic arrangements that has a wee bit of Muse and a slight shade of Coheed and Cambria to them, nods are given in the direction of Rush her and there as well as a likely one off wink in the direction of Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris. Stoner rock, grunge and stoner metal driven creations are thrown into the mix and the blender, but often with alterations in pace, intensity and arrangement details and structures closer tied in to progressive rock. Typical progressive metal arrangements are produced here and there, with guitars and keyboards crafting majestic, swooping passages, but explored and conveyed in a less than typical manner. Token post-rock style textured instrument details are used as a light flavoring on occasion, and there's also a small handful of ambient mood pieces at hand here, with noise and avant oriented details added as fleeting presences. In short, this is a production that will be challenging to place into any given and defined box, style or genre. The most breathtaking composition, as well as the one cut I guess will interest fans of progressive rock more than the rest of this album, comes at the very end. The 8 minute long instrumental 'Cradle' opens with a dark and haunting cello, develops into an orchestral arrangement using a myriad of keyboard layers exploring a Middle Eastern inspired sound that gains some striking Egyptian sounding details as it develops, then shifts into an intense guitar riffs and guitar solo driven sequence exploring the same scales and tones prior to dwindling in sheer intensity and returning to a more keyboards, orchestral driven arrangement again and concluding with cold, desolate keyboard sounds. A brilliant creation, at least to my ears and my mind. Chest Rockwell have never been a typical progressive rock band, or even a typical band overall. They have always been exploring their own paths, and if they have any major interest in being a part of a progressive rock scene I can't really tell. They do make interesting and innovative music however, and to my mind at least have a true progressive spirit to the material they create, even if or perhaps because of not including all that many obvious references to the past of progressive rock or progressive metal. It is a production that will have more of a niche appeal, but it is a band and an album well worth investigating by those who are interested in a rather purebred alternative variety of progressive rock and progressive metal.