The neo-prog rock scene has a new contender in the form of Israeli quintet Solstice Coil, a synthesis of several influences resulting in a highly enjoyable if slightly bewildering listening experience. Their sophomore, Natural Causes, portrays a slightly darker sound from A Prescription For Paper Cuts, but this shift is not unwelcome. It also marks one of the few occasions where the influences mentioned in the band’s résumé feature strongly in the music: Radiohead, Muse, Genesis and Dream Theater all blend together stylistically.

Opening with the strangest one-two of the lot, “Question Irrelevant”/”Outcome Inevitable” is akin to a Falling Into Infinity-era Dream Theater mixed with a lighter Unexpect, and Deutch’s versatile vocals dart all about the place on top of rocking guitar riffs from Vishnia, while Yallin has plenty of room for his synths and piano. Shalev makes a few bass appearances a bit later, particularly in “Singalong Deathtrap”, more focusing on a low-end than showing off, and lets Caspi keep things more flexible on the drums, with fills and patterns abound.

Solstice Coil seem to flirt with all varieties of prog, from the more accessible on “I Know”, which sports a late-Green Carnation feel, through a neurotic blend of Damian Wilson acoustics with hard rock in “Walking Graveyards” and out into a power-ballad closer of “Recipe For Eternity”, complete with a string quartet and an organ. The solos are mostly in the vein of Genesis and King Crimson, while individual riffs and piano sections blend well from the previous influences mentioned. As a result, the album feels more as a collection of songs rather than a full entity, but very little stand out as weak.

As seems a requirement for prog, the lyrics range between Genesis-like nonsense and the more comprehensible lines. One of my favorite choruses blends the two, saying “Lately, my concrete flowers seem to grow/I hardly ever feel empty anymore/I’m done with replacing the people in my life/Just so I could keep telling the same stories”. That said, the focus seems more on vocal melodies, which Deutch excels at. His voice is impossible to place, managing Bellamy-like highs and a Thom Yorke/Kjetil Nordhus-esque mid-range, with his own nuances mixed in as well.

The hour of music is a little hard to digest at first, but that shouldn’t deter any fans of Genesis, Porcupine Tree or Radiohead from giving this a try. It’s certainly one of the better prog rock releases I’ve heard in a while, and it’s available for streaming on their Bandcamp site. Solstice Coil have struck upon a strong formula in Natural Causes, an album which will be tough for them to top, and it comes highly recommended.

Tracklisting:
1. Question Irrelevant
2. Outcome Inevitable
3. Fall Schedules
4. Human Again
5. I Know
6. Singalong Deathtrap
7. Walking Graveyards
8. Too Many Regrets
9. Moral Oxidation
10. Replacing People
11. Designing Instincts
12. Recipe For Eternity

Solstice Coil are:
Shir Deutch – Vocals, acoustic & electric guitars
Opher Vishnia – Lead guitars, E-Bow and various effects
Shai Yallin – Synths, keyboards & piano
Yaniv Shalev – Electric & fretless bass guitars
Yatziv Caspi – Drums

More Solstice Coil:
Website
Facebook
Bandcamp

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