CALIGULA'S HORSE | Rise Radiant | Album Review

Progressive metal has been one of the more alluring subgenres of metal in recent years. One of the names that makes that statement accurate is Caligula's Horse. Hailing from Queensland, Australia, this is a band that you may not know about yet, which is strange due to their discography containing five studio albums. The latest of these is this years' "Rise Radiant". For those who do not know about Caligula's Horse, the progressive metal description definitely fits this band's style, as there are endless technical riffs and passionate vocals and peaks and valleys that prove that they are incredibly versatile. The talented musicianship is definitely a feature, but there is a wide range of styles that this band goes for, and that is prog metal's greatest characteristic. The fifth studio album from the band is hyped up as the band's most potent album to date. In an article announcing the album on their label's site, "Rise Radiant" is described as follows: "Rise Radiant is an uncompromising exploration of the human experience dressed in vivid musical colour and virtuousic performances. It is an anthem for the regeneration of self-belief, an exploration of the themes of legacy, and a rallying cry for survival." It's been common for bands to announce that their latest work is their best to date, and while there have been bands that fell way too short of their potential, Caligula's Horse is a band to definitely anticipate when they make statements that grandios about an upcoming album, especially if they're a fresh new face that hasn't received as much attention yet.

"The Tempest", "Slow Violence", and "Valkyrie" were the singles released early from the album. All of these cuts showcase the band's best abilities and set up potential for the rest of the album to deliver, even though I assure you that these tracks are among the easier to digest across this entire 47 minute album. Just because they're among the simpler offerings on the album, though, does not mean that these tracks don't succeed. While "The Tempest" is a good opening track, it's really the tracks that were released after that which really hit massive home runs. "Valkyrie" was my first exposure to Caligula's Horse, and the first minute or two is more than enough to convert me into a fan of this band. This is one of the catchiest progressive metal songs I've heard in a while, and the chorus will instantly have you either singing along or react physically, if the opening verse didn't already do that. The musicanship here is just as excellent, with lead vocalist Jim Grey being the perfect voice to be layered on top of it. "Slow Violence" gives me massive Karnivool vibes in the musicianship and the song structure and writing, and that alone makes it my personal favorite song on the album. This is the kind of creativity that I'd like to see used by more bands, and it's another example of this band implementing a catchy chorus that will click instantly with the listener. "Valkyrie" and "Slow Violence" are both among some of my favorite songs of this year, and they're songs that you will want to listen to on repeat, and you'll feel bad leaving them behind in order to listen to something else. 

I should say again that if you're expecting the entirety of this album to be like the pre-release singles, you are halfway right, but there is a lot more to this album than just that. Aside from the fact that the heavy riffs and technical solos are present across this album's entirety, "Rise Radiant" has some true variety to its name. Several tracks on this album are a combination of a softer musical backdrop and a heavier one, all with the excellent performances from each band member at the forefront. Tracks like "Oceanrise" and "Salt" begin quietly all the while fluctuating perfectly between sections with excellent melodies from lead vocalist Jim Grey, who does an excellent job on vocals. It's an album where every element introduced is pulled off in the best way possible, from the hooks to the vocals to the music. Even in the softer moments like "Resonate" and "Autumn", you don't get bored or disinterested. "Resonate" is a quick two and a half minutes, but is able to do so much with its minimalistic musical elements, going for a soft electronic style while Jim Grey softly singing. "Autumn" is particularly beautiful. At over seven minutes in length, this is perfect driving through the forest on on an autumn night material, especially considering the title of the song is "Autumn". The acoustic notes are gorgeous to hear, and it really sucks you into its atmosphere, and that's impressive. It is definitely a highlight on this album for sure, but that can also be said about this entire album if I were to be honest. 

"Rise Radiant" is devoid of any serious flaws, and any that take form are minimal. For example, the solos are mixed a little bit louder than the music at times, but that's not detrimental to any of these solos as they're all impressive. Also, there are obviously tracks that are better than others on this album. "Slow Violence" is more listenable to me than "The Ascent", the ten-minute closer of the album. However, none of the tracks on "Rise Radiant" are bad or even average quality. Even the two covers at the end are worth hearing. This is fantastic music from a new band that has all the talent in the world and is desperate for it to be revealed. With unique rhythms that are presented in a seemingly endless amount, and excellent musicianship, Caligula's Horse should be looked at as one of the next flagship bands in progressive metal. The sales pitch of this project being the band's most focused and potent to date didn't fall short as even the lesser tracks like "The Tempest" and "The Ascent" deliver as much as the rest of the album, and that should get more people on board. Overall, "Rise Radiant" is a poignant and ethereal foray into the progressive metal landscape with awe-inspiring hooks and excellent guitar riffs that blend magnificently with atmospheric textures and overall beauty. If you're a fan of bands such as Tesseract, Haken, and Leprous, this is definitely worth seeking out. The radiance that emits from this music will change your mood at any point in the day, and that's something to be thankful for. 

RATING: 9/10

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