Rockfreaks.net

Fabled Mind

Project Paradise

Written by: PP on 21/02/2024 22:59:00

Fabled Mind released a solid debut album "Passenger" four years ago, but today it feels like a warm-up to the main show in comparison to its successor, "Project Paradise". The sophomore album by the Copenhagen skate punks is an extremely ambitious undertaking that transcends into something far more progressive and grand than just mere lightning-speed skate punk. If anything, it sounds like it's pulling a page or two off the Coheed And Cambria playbook given its technical wizardry and gradually developing, complex soundscapes that show just what is possible within the confines of this genre if you think slightly outside of the box.

"Project Paradise" is a concept album revolving around technological progress in a dystopian world where artificial intelligence has gained control of humanity. Even if you don't care for the introspective story itself, there's plenty of great lyricism to be found within the catchy verses and choruses packaged within the songs.

The variety offered on the record is staggering. One moment, the band is engaged in a metallic, almost metalcore-sounding segment on "The Program", while "The Algorithm" and "Vultures" provide a progressive punk expression similar to Catch 22 on "Permanent Revolution" or RX Bandits on "...And The Battle Begun", both classics (despite being more ska-punkish in sound). At the same time, the title track has vocalist Dion Finne sounding like a Swedish skate punk vocalist given the style of their tightly played guitars at the beginning of the track.

It would be cool to hear Dion in a straight Swedish-style stop/start skate punk band like Adjusted or Millencolin because I think it would sound great, but that's perhaps outside the scope of this review. Here, he's content to deliver that style just occasionally to supplement the more challenging and multifaceted expression offered by this album.

A professional, crisp production gives "Project Paradise" a perfect balance between the vocals and the instrumentals. If anything, the record could have benefited from an even spacier and more expansive production given how complicated and aspirational many of the tracks are, but even in its current more confined state, it results in sing-along opportunities in international class on multiple occasions. And this time, it's not just pedal-to-the-floor, breakneck speed material (even though tracks like "The Great Hack" rule also), but lots of tempo changes and interesting chord progressions, which gives the album its progressive vibe.

So you could say that "Project Paradise" is an improvement over their debut in just about every way. The songs are grander by design but don't suffer from over-inflation or needless flair exposition. Instead, the level of aggressive riffs and larger soundscapes are a great contrast to each other, resulting in one of the better releases in Danish punk rock in recent memory.

Download: The Algorithm, Vultures, Awakening, Project Paradise
For the fans of: RX Bandits, Catch 22, Stream City, Random Hand
Listen: Facebook

Release date 12.01.2024
Lockjaw Records / Thousand Islands Records