Dale Benedict, perhaps better known as the master mind behind Gregorian Rock, has been putting together album #3, "Fire" one single release at-a-time. I wrote about this album and the concept behind it back in March; the early cuts were original, exciting, and very well put together. Gregorian Rock is truly a distinctive prog force to be reckoned with. Recently Dale forwarded me a copy of song #11 called "Wisdom"; a piece he described as "pummeling." The song opens hard and stays there throughout; drums crack the protective coating that is the vocals, which are but the lone word sapientia (Latin for wisdom), and guitar work spills out just enough to tangle itself around that vocal line and hang on. I pick up a few top notes of Spock's Beard and Porcupine Tree lingering around the periphery...
Playing back some of the other tracks Dale has laid down leads to some attention-grabbing music; the cut titled "Blood & Fire" jumps right at you. There is "jazz cafe" feel much like Steve Scales improvising with Herbie Hancock if you can paint that picture in your mind. Once again the drum work is exceptional as it carries the rest of the music comfortably through the headphones, filtering through your cerebrum as it both soothes and ignites the senses.
Gregorian Rock is the stained glass window in that vintage village gift shop...until you cross the threshold and nothing is as it seems. While the vocals are a chant, they are well accompanied by incredible guitar and keyboard work. Dale does Tony Levin proud with the Chapman stick as well...
A song that changes things up a bit is this next cut, "Talon." Gregorian Rock digs deeper into the rock section of the prog garden with this tune; I detect top notes of latter era Yes blending with aromatics of Be Bop Deluxe. Dale has done his home work for this album; there are footprints up and down the prog garden. "Fire" is a culmination of Gregorian Rock's first two albums stretched to a new limit...Dale didn't just push the envelope to stroke his ego, he moved the bar and raised the expectation level for what Gregorian Rock can do.
"Ashes" is up next and once again Gregorian Rock comes at you from a different angle. The vibe is almost surreal; you feel as though you are floating downstream on a current as gentle as flowing honey, each twist of the water soothing and tender. The pallet goes from dreary gray to color strewn as Gregorian Rock manages to awaken you without shock waves...letting the sound flow over you like a soothing balm...
Liner Notes...As should be blatantly obvious by now--and explained to the prog faithful in previous posts--Gregorian Rock is Dale Benedict and vice-versa. However; for the making of "Fire" Dale had some help in the form of a pretty impressive line-up. With Dale on vocals, keyboards, EWI, and Chapman stick, the line-up rounds out with Phil Keaggy, Vinnie Moreno, Pat Neil, and Jay Pilkington on guitars, John Adams on bass, Scott McCullor on vocals, and Sean McCurley and Paul Garretson on drums. As big as Texas is, that is one crowded recording studio...
Gregorian Rock legitimizes itself as a band with this album. Assembling that level of talent--the fact that Phil Keaggy not only played guitar but had nothing but positive things to say about the project--is a bold statement all by itself. Gregorian Rock has grown and matured from their first release in 2013 right through the first eleven tracks of "Fire." The sound is tighter, the mixing improved, the songs stronger, and the emotions bursting through the headphones are real.
Take the leap and learn more about Gregorian Rock at Gregorian Rock. You can purchase any or all of the first eleven tracks of "Fire" (there will be twelve upon completion) at Amazon
GR Fire Amazon, iTunes GR Fire iTunes, and cdbaby GR Fire cdbaby. You will also find links to purchase the first two albums while you are there. For those looking to expand their own personal prog boundaries, this is must-have stuff. There is also Facebook if you are interested in keeping up with the latest, including the release of song #12 (when that occurs) at Gregorian Rock FB. Of course, Gregorian Rock can also be found on the ever popular Twitter @cantusnovus.
I debated posting a clip this week as I prefer you to listen and make a purchase...need to support the artists after all. However I thought the clip below, "Remember the Name" would help introduce those who are still unfamiliar with Gregorian Rock to this section of the prog garden. This song should help erase the misconception that Gregorian chant is simply dark voices echoing from a hollow void.
Although the song opens with a melancholy, perhaps stereotypical "churchy" feel, the mood quickly swings right as the tempo gains steam and even the vocals have an upbeat, toe-tapping edge. The drums and percussion lay a foundation for the vocal work that is tight as a wrestling mat; you feel the music bounce up and come right back at you.
OK fellow progheads...two weeks in Texas and two bands expanding the prog garden. Gregorian Rock has taken a unique approach as Dale Benedict blends the ancient art of Gregorian chant with modern music to establish a different section of the prog garden. The sounds are soothing, menacing, deep, and relaxing...all while seeping into your subconscious to alter your thoughts on the genre. One thing is certain--prog rock has many tangent roads down which it is unafraid to roam...
So please give Gregorian Rock a listen and make a purchase. The search for all things prog continues to find new and expanding avenues and ever changing acreage in the prog garden...which is after all the best part of the journey. Until next time...
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