Extol

Item: The Blueprint Dives
Author: Peter Veness

The Blueprint Dives

(2005)

Reviewed by Peter Veness

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Label Century MediaDecapolisApril 2005

alternative metal black metal melodic death metal progressive metal

There's a dripping tap in my kitchen, it's really starting to bug me but the plumber says he's too busy with new houses to worry about a pesky dripping tap. See, the big nasty new development on the edge of town does over the little guy again.

I feel like inviting Extol over to help me sort out my problems with the plumbers of this town, we could form a vigilante the Extol Militia, I tell you now those plumbers would soon have more to worry about than the constant bullying from carpenters for wearing their shorts too low.

Extol are heavy, they're brutal and they're here to take control. But, the really cool thing is mum wouldn't mind them staying over cause deep down they're really gentle, polite dudes. It's just they don't like plumbers.

On The Blueprint Dives the Nordic five-piece deliver perhaps their most consistent album, both sonically and lyrically the band seem to have found their favoured sound, which, for the record would best be described as somewhere between progressive and black metal.

It's the melody, when everything else is seemingly careering out of control the melody soars out and over everything else -- the instruments find it and lock in. To talk about Extol's technical prowess is redundant, they've been beyond superlatives for a while now but they haven't always provided songs to remember.

On The Blueprint Dives Extol finally deliver what they've wanted, a haunting and occasionally nauseating blend of cathartic screaming, thundering percussion and rhythm lines not too far removed from jazz. They have learnt how to genuinely slow down, perhaps it is the time they spent with Opeth, who prefer to sit down to play their music these days, whatever it is Extol don't sound uncomfortable playing slow almost-ballads.

Lost in Dismay works the cold and bleak ground covered by Katatonia but the bass lines of John Robert Mjaland contrast against the rest of the band by wandering in to meandering almost hip swaying plucking.

Lead single Pearl is the band's best attempt yet to find a spot on rock radio, whether deliberate or not is not the question, what matters is that Extol have shown they can write a fine hook. I've always been a sucker for breaks helping to create a rhythm and on Pearl the band use the break in bucket loads. Peter Espevoll's lyrics and voice dominate the song, creating the most beautiful song Extol have written to date.

Don't let all this talk of a slow Extol fool you, they've got all your rock-out needs catered for with Gloriana and Essence, the latter delivering technical riffs, clean chorus vocals and in a subtle nod to Hardcore, gang vocals with a Euro-metal tinge.

Extol will tour the United States later this year including a performance at the Illinois Cornerstone at Bushnell.

3/4