It’s been a while. Psychotic Waltz’s last full album release was in 1996 with “Bleeding”. There was then a lull between 1996 and 2010 in band activity. They have more recently been putting themselves about and indeed played at ProgPower Europe last year. There I was able to see them for myself and appreciate why this band received claims of being the future of prog metal all that time ago, when prog metal wasn’t a known entity. This is the band’s original line-up.
My recollections of earlier Psychotic Waltz, thinking of past songs like “Faded” and “Into the Everflow” was of a bluesy, dreamy form of prog metal. As I expected, the sound has ramped up considerably over the 24 years between album, with the mixing now by the legendary Jens Bogren, but the atmospheric haziness has not been lost if “Devils and Angels” is anything to go by. There’s a little flute to start with. It’s kind of eerie but soon develops a powerful pattern, swinging between solid songmanship, heaviness, quieter passages and an epic structure, aided by ethereal screaming. After such a powerful start, Psychotic Waltz hit us hard with the thumping “Stranded”. The chorus line echoes out at us for added effect. It’s solid hard rock with that dreamy psychedelia and such lines as “We are stranded on the dark side of the sun”. “Back to Black” then sucks us in with its hard and melodic rock rhythm. It has punch. Not to forget also the haunting vocals of Devon Graves. The packed power punch continues with the dark “All the Bad Men”. Hell, these are just great songs. “All the Bad Men” is moody and broody. This is what I call a song with impact. I lost myself in its deep and comforting vibe. An acoustic beginning sets us off in another direction. Devon’s melancholic voice points skywards. It’s a kind of ballad but one with strength. As ever the instrumental section serves as the engine room and provides the power. The climactic end reminds us of the skill of Psychotic Waltz. Each song adds weight to this weighty affair. After “While the Spiders Spin”, “Pull the String” puts fear into us with its hard rhythm and sinister lines “angels carry guns”. It’s anthemic. Mid way it strikes out progressively before returning to its heavy roots. Devon Graves’s flute enters the scene here and there, and provides a haunting touch on the thoughtful “Demystified”. “We’re all part of a disrepair, architects of our own despair”, goes one of the chilling lyrics of the epic “Sisters of the Dawn”. The song is heavy and direct, sophisticated and yet easy to assimilate with its driving dark structure. Again here are masters at work. Devon’s vocals sail above this monstrous soundscape. “Sisters of the Dawn” sends shivers up my spine. What a song. “In the Silence” closes the album. As ever, it gently turns our imaginative powers as it works through its musical range of magic.
Everything about this album signals strength. There’s nothing pretentious whatsoever about “The God-Shaped Void”. This album is a collection of solid, hard, classically styled songs, all with clever twists and outstanding sound structures, and presented to us by a band of top of the range, highly creative musicians. Welcome back, Psychotic Waltz.
(9/10 Andrew Doherty)
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