Review Summary: This is an amazing album. Matisyn and Parabelle have really showed out. It shows that Matisyn has comepletly moved on from e|b and isnt looking back. There are elements from both e|b and framing hanley in the music but its still fresh and original.
I was a hardcore Evans Blue fan back when Kevin Matisyn was their front man. I admit I was a little upset (understatement) to hear of his departure from the band but now both companies have moved on to bigger and better? things. Evans Blue have a new singer and have put out a new cd which I’m not going to give my opinion on because this review is all about Kevin Matisyn and his new band Parabelle. Plus it would be bad. :)
Parabelle was formed back when Evans Blue and Framing Hanley were touring together. Since the departure of Kevin Matisyn and Tim Huskinson from their respective bands, they have taken this little project and ran with it. After months of demos and teasing finally their first album, or albums, have been released. The question on every single Old Evans Blue fan is will it be better than e|b’s new attempt. Short answer is yes. Long answer is holyfriggengoshdarntingletanglewafflemuffinsYES!
1. Pray to the Pessimist – First track starts off fast and hard to really hit you with what you’re in store for throughout the album. The new heaviness and screaming really caught me off guard a sec but damn I love it. Guitars and Drumming are really wearing it out and the chorus is great. 4.5/5
2. Stay Close – Nice melodic guitar at the start of the song. It’s very emotional with quiet verses and a loud epic chorus featuring the guitar solo from the beginning. Lyrics are beautiful and Kevin Matisyn is really on top of his game in the chorus. Guitars really kick in at the 3:20 mark with heavy riffing. Drums keep things fresh throughout the song. 5/5
3. Atonement – A little drum fill and we’re into track three. Nice stick work behind the quiet verses then the guitars really kick in. I like the chorus with the “WhooAAAoooo This is Atonement!” Another verse, then the chorus again and the bridge which is a build up to another chorus and a cool ending. Simple song structure but its still a nice song. 4/5
4. The Conversation Ends – One of the songs I heard before the album came out. It was one of my early favorites. Starts quiet with Kevin spitting great lyrics to a quiet guitar picking and the drums jamming away. The chorus kicks in and what a chorus it is. Not as epic as Stay Close but it is hella catchy and well written. The guitars go into a breakdown like riff for another verse up until a new chorus. Some cool effects in the bridge with nice drummin. Kevin comes in and starts screaming then DAM! A sick breakdown!? Wtf! Another chorus and then the end. 5/5
5. He Started Off Well – Still not familiar with this song. It’ll probably grow on me but right now others stand out a lot more and this one doesn’t as much. Song seems to be about a big shot prick type guy who loses everything. Chorus is catch and pretty entertaining. “I feel the punishment! He started off well! Started off well! Cover your eyes!” There is a really cool bridge with Matisyn screaming in the background then a really cool verse before the final chorus. 3/5
6. First – Oh here we go. Very heavy song. Has a really cool almost Slipknot like intro. Heavy guitar riffs continue during the verse with nice drumming to go with it. Very nice pre-chorus that has Matisyn screaming “Is it too much to ask!?” with a china cymbal in the background rockin. Chorus comes in but it doesn’t stick out much but it goes well with the song. That’s ok because were back into the heavy verse that leads up to another sick pre-chorus. We then have another breakdown, some nice screams from Kevin, and then we’re back into another chorus and an explosive ending. Niiiiiice nice song. 5/5
7. Face This Charade – First single and first song I heard from the band. I really like the intro. It starts with fast tempo and just runs with a great guitar part behind the vocals. A small pause with a static scream voice thing opens up for another great catchy chorus. Another verse then the static voice and chorus that goes into a really cool bridge. Things quiet down for a bit for a short atmospheric verse and then the chorus bursts in again. This time Matisyn is angry and lets you know by screaming “Coward!!” a few times at the top of his lungs. Song ends on a nice long growl by the vocalist. Great song. 5/5
8. Whore – Starts off cool with guitar chugging with some drumming in the background. I really like the china cymbal behind the verse. Next thing you know we have the chorus. The vocals are trading back and forth sort of answering each other. I don’t really like the chorus but the verses are really cool. Really sweet bridge that goes into some screaming and growling from Kevin. I really like that he is screaming more often. They switch gears suddenly and chug their way to an awesome ending. Ok song but not up the the rest of the album’s standards. 2.5/5
9. When Last Words Are Sighs – Oh I love this song. Really cool groove to start things out. Guitars and Drums are really working on this song and the verse is cool too but the chorus is amazing with clean and screamed vocals. This is actually the first song where the vocals seem to take a backseat to the instruments. Another verse and sick chorus that screams “Just feeling my stomach turn!” Nice break down after the second chorus that goes into a nice little bridge before another chorus but this one is more sinister. The song seems to get angrier as it progresses. One of my top favorites for sure. 5/5
10. A Summit Borderline – Closing track for the first cd. Starts out with a soothing clean guitar and another in the background for effect then goes into a nice guitar solo. This is a very very nice two minute intro. Things quiet down for Matisyn’s vocals and superb lyrics. Chorus comes in at 2:42 and it’s pretty good. The lyrics are really cool and Kevin is singing them well with the instruments playing nice atmospheric music. After the second chorus we get some heavy double bass then a nice bridge with good drumming before another chorus busts in. Guitar solo comes in again and then another verse to end the song. I could tell the verses were the emphasis of this song. 3/5
1. Blur – A pretty amazing piano intro to start off the second cd. Vocals come in at about 1:30. Piano is a good change of pace from the first ten tracks and works well with Kevin Matisyn’s voice. Guitars come in hard but calm down to a very chilled level. Chorus comes in and it’s another good one. Verse builds up and builds up to a sudden silence. Piano starts again with a really cool beat behind it then slowly fades out. Great great song. 5/5
2. Are you Alarmed? - A little guitar intro and Kevin swooning “Listen to me” before the guitars really come in. A steady snare roll behind the first verse that rolls right into a loud chorus. Kevin has written really good lyrics for this song as always. Another Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus song with a really good bridge that has Kevin wailing then again with him screaming behind the sung lyrics. Another chorus to finish the song. Really good vocal performance. 3.5/5
3. Bother – A nice acoustic song. Really good vocals to start this song with a quiet guitar part behind it. Then an almost identical second verse with bass added. Chorus continues the feel from the verses then a little guitar solo and bridge. This was a nice break from the verse chorus verse chorus formula. 4/5
4. (I Was Told) To Never Let You Go – Nice little dreamy guitar intro that goes into the first verse. The pre-chorus is cool and the chorus is catchy. Another verse and chorus then a really cool bridge. Ok song nothing special. 3/5
5. Made Of – Pretty intro to lead into Kevin’s vocals. The guitar work is beautiful and goes really well with the low piano notes. Not much to say but Kevin’s voice and lyrics are amazing and this is a really beautiful song. 5/5
6. In My Soul – This song has a nice little groove throughout the verses. Really good chorus. Probably the best chorus on the second cd. It’s another verse chorus verse extended chorus song. The bridge is pretty with nice effects going on then it blows up into a nice guitar solo before another chorus to close. 4/5
7. Puppet On A String – Explodes into guitars and drums galore. Really cool lyrics in the verses and a really good chorus. Probably the coolest guitar part in a chorus yet. After the second chorus there is a little breakdown then a build up to some great singing and another chorus. Some screams toward the end and then Kevin starts saying “Dig Down” I think, in a tick-tock like rhythm. It’s a really cool ending. 4/5
8. Eternity Behind 4 Hours – Here it is. If anyone thinks that Kevin Matisyn can’t sing or that Evans Blue’s new front man is better then his former they should look to this track for a reality check. This is an all vocal a capella where Matisyn just shows off for 2 minutes. He truly has an amazing voice. Beautiful. 4/5
9. Terrified (Get Me Out Alive) – An early favorite of most Parabelle fans. It’s a great track and Kevin’s vocals really soar throughout. The chorus is really good. Band takes a step back to let Matisyn shine but they do good work in the chorus. Bridge builds up to Kevin’s soaring vocals before another chorus. Good song. 3.5/5
10. A Drop In The Ocean – Here we go with the last track. A peaceful guitar and a drowsy bass play behind Kevin’s emotional vocals throughout the verses. Second verse has a little nifty guitar part that goes into silence with only Kevin’s vocals. He sings “Ooohoo there is a drop in the ocean” in a mystifying performance. It’s really amazing. Instruments come back in then the next verse. Then they really kick in and Kevin just wails all he’s got. He sings “I never know what to say” and is answered back by vocals in the background. Music stops all but a lone guitar and Kevin then build back up for one last performance. Fantastic song and fantastic way to end a superb album. 5/5
Final thoughts are that this is an amazing album. Matisyn and Parabelle have really showed out and he has shown that he has moved on from e|b and isn’t looking back. There are obvious elements from Evans Blue and Framing Hanley in the songs but of course there is. Its still entertaining and original music and I believe this band could be bigger then both of its mother bands.
Recommended Tracks:
When Last Words Are Sighs
The Conversation Ends
A Drop In The Ocean
Stay Close
First
