ALBUM REVIEW: Prince of Failure – Prince of Failure
Music is stereotyped as a form of therapy. A cathartic activity that not only brings calm and happiness to artists, but also a new level of personal understanding, which can bring out new levels of creativity beyond what has surfaced before. By tapping into the innermost experiences of long-term isolation, masking neurodivergence, and the resulting trauma of such, TESSERACT vocalist Dan Tompkins is processing it all through the best medium he knows how: through deep, emotional, occasionally conceptual rock music under the guise of a personification of all of his struggles and pains. With the help of CHIMP SPANNER mastermind Paul Ortiz came a new character rising from the debris and the record that tells his story. Enter PRINCE OF FAILURE.
Through 12 tracks, the duo detail the story of their namesake character and how they come from darkness within to the brightest soul shining through. This journey begins with The Glass Veil: a slow introduction to the story of PRINCE OF FAILURE fading in as the elements start coming in, with faded percussion and a soft echo of a voice. This brings way to the first chapter of the tale in the following track Dream Stealer. The melodic movements and harmony of vocals is something straight out of a fantasy novel, flowing to build an electric atmosphere with each verse, only to peak with a heartstring-pulling chorus. As the first full-length helping on the record, setting the precedent for what awaits ahead of the story, it only makes one eager for more lore, more feeling, more everything.
Around the middle of the record is one of the most lyrically hard-hitting songs, Saturn’s Shadow. Not compromising on the wrenching vocals or the thrilling metal-laced arrangements accompanying, this is one where the words are worth taking a few listens to and maybe a few reads of. Acting as the entity of one’s self-doubt and hatred, describing the relationship between the self and the mind “disconnected”, Tompkins poses the question “Do you think you’re giving in to me too soon?” This is confirmed in the following lines, stating, “It’s easy to see, you’re giving in to me”.
Saturn’s Shadow can come across as the viewpoint of one’s mind playing games and confusing its host’s perspectives and emotions; such as it may during bouts of mental illness. This is portrayed as a relationship of level communication with episodes of uncontrollable noise and chaos. Episodes that cannot be stopped, but only endured. The truth of the matter is with mental illness and neurodivergence, it may feel like one’s head is its own sentient personality living in narrow proximity with oneself. To put this concept on a track where it’s played so specifically to be meaningful, yet vague enough to be universally relatable, is not only entertaining. This is also inarguably greatly validating for metal fans all around the world.
The record comes to an end with Jaded Mantra: a peak climax and resolution which closes the cover on the story of PRINCE OF FAILURE and the leading character of their project. Describing themselves as, “A tainted mind searching for an open door”, the final chapter is about finding relief. An escape. An end to the lonesome darkness. But ultimately, there is regrettable acceptance as the final line is spoken from the record: “I’m the prince of failure”.
PRINCE OF FAILURE as a project is something that brought out not just the deepest and somewhat darkest spirals within Tompkins, but so many more artistic capabilities that he had never tapped into before. Something that diverted away from his TESSERACT content, along with Ortiz taking on a new challenge away from the comfort of CHIMP SPANNER. It seems unlocking and exploring the machinations of one’s mind also unlocks and allows exploration of further creative possibilities. PRINCE OF FAILURE is a king of success.
Rating: 8/10
Prince Of Failure is out now via Kscope.
Like PRINCE OF FAILURE on Facebook.