KEKAL — The Habit of Fire (review)

KEKAL — The Habit of Fire album cover Album · 2007 · Avant-garde Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Pelata
Few times in my life have I come across a band as fresh & unique as transcontinental Prog Metal band Kekal. Hailing from Indonesia & Canada simultaneously, this is a band that is definitely not afraid of blending genres. Musically speaking, the band is comprised of uber-musicians, more than deftly skilled at their chosen instrument. The combination of tones, atmospheres, rhythms & execution is simply stunning.

It’s nearly impossible to break this music down to lowest-common-denominator terms. The music is dark, compelling, heavy, enthralling and bold. Song to song, the band shows great depth & variety. “The Gathering Of Ants” starts things off with a high-energy riff & a healthy dose of musical dexterity, adding industrial overtones before dropping into a strong, Pain Of Salvation-esque verse. “Isolated I” comes off very melodically at its start, even adding an electric piano layer (ala ‘70s Rock) over some cool double-bass drumming. By the time the vocals kick in, the Black Metal influence shows up with some distorted growls behind some cool electronic framework. “Our Urban Industry Runs Monotonously” begins in with an atmospheric, piano laden delivery that Kevin Moore himself would envy, while continuing into a musical landscape of Steve Wilson-like proportions.

Each & every song on this album is an awe inspiring piece of work. They don’t sound like any one band, or any one genre. Rather, the members take all of their varied influences and combine them into a grand, musical tapestry. Fans of Porcupine Tree, Chroma Key, Tool, Dead Soul Tribe & Devin Townsend have a new record to track down. In a musical world where the word “progressive” is used all too loosely, Kekal is the real deal.
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