Short Reviews [Ward XVI - 2020 - "Metamorphosis"]

The second album in the series starts in exactly the same way as the first, with the female psychopath being interviewed by the doctor, and this leads us into a memory of her mother talking to her as a child saying that one day, she is going to be something special. This song collapses and morphs into yet another fairground theme, something which is not unusual for Ward XVI. One of the real delights with their music is that while one can guarantee that Psychoberrie’s vocals will always be great, that the song structures and arrangements will take the listener on a journey, one never knows what is going to happen within each song, let alone from one song to the next. I guess that in some ways this must make it somewhat hard for them to find support gigs or the right festivals, as while many will simply class them as theatrical hard rock, they are both that and yet more than that. Their music is rock, yet not always heavy, it could well be termed progressive yet progheads will probably recoil in fear if they come across this. It is music where those performing it have tried to grab hold of the living beast and instead of forcing it into one pigeonhole or another have allowed it free rein to do whatever it likes, and they are just coming along for the ride. It is music which for me is exactly what it should be, in that while it has been influenced by others, they are doing their own thing and not worrying as to whether there is a readymade audience, but instead are going to create their own. “The Cradle Song” is one of the highlights, with a groove and beat far removed from metal, yet it is incredibly heavy and the vocals are superb. The solos are just right, with a rhythm section setting the foundation and the guitars locked in tight while the keyboards take it is a different direction. It may fade out, but it fades into the sound of a jewelry box, providing music for the baby to listen to. Compare that to “Imago”, which is far more industrial, and if it were not for the vocals, one would not believe it were the same band. This is powering stuff and I personally cannot wait for the conclusion of the story in the next album. Ward XVI are exciting, vibrant, and one of the most interesting “new” bands I have come across in some time. Check them out.