ALBUM REVIEW: Resident Human – Wheel

It’s a very exciting time for Finnish prog outfit WHEEL. Despite the pandemic derailing their best laid plans for touring in 2020 they have shot to new heights off the back of 2019’s Moving Backwards. Using their time wisely they have been working away behind the scenes on the much anticipated follow up Resident Human which is available now. What will this release bring to the table?

Dissipating eases you into the 11 minute opener with soothing, clean tones and an inviting mood which gradually begins to build in tension as it progresses. The eloquent vocal work of frontman James Lascelles instantly grabs your focus with its subtle yet evocative prose. As the track gathers momentum the energy levels begin to rise, introducing enticing hooks and snappy drum beats to elevate the piece. 

Movement brings forth some particularly jarring instrumentation to assist in hitting home the thought provoking lyrical content. The ebbing and flowing intensity immediately grabs you and insists you pay attention to the narrative. The closing segments will leave you reeling as the drumming becomes increasingly more feverish. Ascend throws some exhilarating riff work into the mix, drenched in groove to get your head banging. This track will be a sure fire way to send a live crowd into a state of euphoric chaos. 

Hyperion ushers in the next extensive instalment with a dramatic intro filled with prominent drum beats and poignant vocal work which discusses our relationship with mortality and how we are all on the same journey from life to death. The chorus piece provides a surging rush of adrenaline with an accessible tone that becomes instantly ingrained in your mind. The transitioning moods that swing back and forth keep you fixated on this piece and how it unfolds, taking various forms as it advances. 

Fugue possesses an ominous, unnerving demeanour that is accompanied by skillful bass lines and tasteful guitar elements that swarm around the soundscape. It promptly departs just as you are beginning to get into the swing of its intentions but it nicely tees up the title track. Resident Human continues the unsettling vibe instilled previously, uncovering intricate layers along the way that keep you on the edge of your seat. Sounds and sensations arrive from all angles to envelop you in the intrigue and theatricality, offering up moments of pure escapism interwoven with invigorating instrumentation. Old Earth allows for a brief moment of contemplation, to allow to you interpret the emotions and sentiments provided on this voyage in the form of a dramatic yet calming piano segment before the curtain falls.

Some expansive attempts in the field of progressive metal can feel like a bit of a chore to digest but WHEEL have devised a way of constructing extensive, alluring compositions that are a true joy to behold as well as creating shorter tracks that are packed with just as much vigour and intensity. Resident Human tackles a lot of pressing topics that the world is currently enduring and it is certainly worth the time to delve further into the narratives provided as well as appreciating the masterful musical tapestries that are formed alongside them. A bold, ambitious effort which deserves to be applauded.

Rating: 9/10

Resident Human is out now via Odyssey Music. 

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