Detailed Reviews [Voay - 2019 - "Cyclogenesis"]

Prolusion. German band Voay started out back in 2013, and following an initial rewarding existence as a live performing band the band decided to go on a performance hiatus while developing their craft and their music alongside working towards finalizing their line-up. This all crystallized in 2019, when they released their debut album "Cyclogenesis".

Analysis. Placing this band into a subset of the progressive rock world is a case of what you want to focus on when listening to their music, as they include quite a few different style and form details in their compositions. Personally I'd describe them as a hard progressive rock band, but a case can most certainly be had for opting for a progressive metal categorization too. But whether it is a case of one or the other, we are entering the landscapes of the harder varieties of progressive rock here. As this initial description indicates, this is a production where a lot is going on. The songs weave their way through multifaceted landscapes here, and sections of hard progressive rock with a more conventional orientation will be followed by quirkier escapades where the influence of bands such as The Mars Volta will be undeniable. Gentler and flowing interludes with as well as without quirky instrument details is a vital part of the proceedings too, and often with what I'd describe as a subtle jazz undercurrent to the proceedings. On occasion the landscapes explored get more explosive and rough in nature too, bordering as well as entering metal landscapes more or less progressive. That we also get a case of brass textures applied in a manner similar to a band like Thank You Scientist and on a backbone that also features similarities with the landscapes band of that ilk explore is worth a mention too. The main drawback for the band is that the lead vocalist isn't able to deliver his contributions at the same level and with the same consistency as the instrumentalists. In part due to an accent, which is obviously more a case of subjective taste, but also in terms of finding the most appropriate tone and timbre. As with many such cases this isn't a major detrimental feature, but the level of quality is just a notch below the rest of the elements and for some listeners this will create a subtly disruptive impression.

Conclusion. Voay is a band that operate on the border between hard progressive rock and progressive metal, and they traverse these landscapes in a quirky and off kilter manner but with frequent offsets into gentler and more atmospheric laden landscapes. This is an expressive production with challenging qualities, with a really subtle jazz undercurrent as a very carefully applied and occasional seasoning. A production to seek out by those who enjoy a band like The Mars Volta, who enjoy the tendencies explored by bands such as Thank You Scientist, and who also find that an inclusion of metal passages into these landscapes is a welcome and natural expansion.

Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room