ALBUM REVIEW: Pale Season – TheNightTimeProject

As far as preconceptions go, that of THENIGHTTIMEPROJECT ranks pretty highly. A supergroup of sorts – comprised of members associated with KATATONIA and LETTERS FROM THE COLONY – their collective experience promises an exciting listen, one that we would hope continues the proven success of these two genre defining bands. Pale Season will stand as the second LP served by the Swedish quartet, acting as another example of prowling progressive metal that is sure to challenge the listener, and cover new sonic territory on a quest to breathe new life into the project. Given the scope of their history, one would expect a consortium of powerful prog, but will those high expectations be met by an equally towering record?

Things seem promising right from the outset as the intro of Hound looms over eerie beginnings. Gentle vocals are tinged with darkness, and steady notes build into what culminates in a serene track. Tastefully done, textures become the main focus, and as much as they are simple yet effective, they also hit home with their passionate edge. As we reach Rotting Eden, the pace has quickened, launching us into a tirade of OPETH-esque prog. Pounding drums and scything guitar combine in a pleasing chug, while vocals soar above everything in a domineering manner. Leaning towards the traditional prog sound that KATATONIA so successfully pioneered, the first two thirds of the track lead beautifully towards a biting bridge in which we hear grating screams, before returning to a calmer conclusion.

By the time we reach Binary, we have settled into the flow and gained a good understanding of what it is that THENIGHTTIMEPROJECT have set out to achieve. The dull, thudding drum track continues to drive forwards, while achingly beautiful guitar continues to cut through the mix and offer a welcoming embrace. As subtle woodwind soothes throughout the latter stages, the listener is given a real sense of novelty; exposed to the kind of proficiency we would have expected from musicians of this calibre. This sentiment remains through Final Light, a track through which we are left spellbound by impressive songwriting. It is the first of two tracks to clock in at over 7-minutes in length, and not a second is left to waste. Lush soundscape features at every turn, equal parts cathartic and eerie in form.

The same could be said of Embers, another punching track that undulates with a mysterious inflection. It’s generally a twisted kind of beauty, yet one that feels consistently impressive. Often side projects like this can feel like overspill from the members’ main bands, but THENIGHTTIMEPROJECT feels like more than just a collection of discarded B-Sides. KATATONIA were perhaps more atmospheric, LETTERS FROM THE COLONY are much heavier, but this is a solid middle ground that offers the best of both worlds. Whether or not the sonic scope could have been a little wider is down to personal opinion, but as they continue to prove through tracks like Pale Season and Anti Meridian, there is a certain intrigue to this record that is hard to ignore.

One could be forgiven for thinking that the album’s title Pale Season is a reference to a stereotypically long and bleak Scandinavian winter, but in actual fact it is designed to be a metaphor for the less colourful patches of human memory. This sinister theme is captured in tracks like Signals In The Sky and paints a vivid picture. This goes some way to explaining the cathartic beauty that we mentioned earlier, and is perfectly detailed in the music itself. It is never oppressive, instead feeling like much more of a dream state in the way it progresses with blurred edges and subtle nuances.

By the time the album is concluded by Meridian, we are left tranquillised by a journey that coagulates haunting musicianship and lyricism in a deft and wholly enjoyable manner. THENIGHTTIMEPROJECT have proven their worth as a unique entity; much more than just an offhand extension of projects past.

Rating: 8/10

Pale Season is set for release June 28th via Debemur Morti Productions.

Like THENIGHTTIMEPROJECT on Facebook.