X-Vision - So Close So Far [album]
 

I find a good motto to go by when listening to most underground metal albums is that you have to concentrate on each song so as to not think you’re iPod is stuck on repeat. So, keeping that in mind, I set myself up with supplies ready for 45 minutes of metal listening pleasure with the latest release from French metal quintet X-Vision, So Close So Far.

The album starts well, easing in with paced track ‘Paper Plane’. The actual music behind lead singer Pierre Pauly’s vocals is actually quite good, not necessarily overly innovative but they nonetheless have a decent guitar riff backed with fast double pedal drumming and meaty bass. ‘Paper Plane’ is about a minute and a half too long, and they should have quit this track while they were ahead, as it gets stale relatively quickly.

Second track, ‘The Green Light’ has drummer, Arnaud Ferveur, killing with a blindingly fast-paced intro. Ferveur follows the basic metal rules of speed, power and precision and cannot be faulted on any of these staples throughout the entire album, but especially on this track.

‘Deadly Adournment’ is again way too long for the quality of the track. I’m beginning to find Pauly’s vocals are taking over the album when it could have been left more instrumental – as this is obviously X-Vision’s strong point. Unfortunately, even after my extensive pre-listen concentration measures, my attention starts to wane not long after this.

Central tracks ‘The Sky Never Lies’ and ‘The Sky Was True’ are barely worth separate mentions, as they blur into over 8 minutes of samey, blah guitar riffs and spitting, incomprehensible lyrics.
Pauly’s accent isn’t overly noticeable until mainly vocal track 7 ‘And Now?’ where it’s just him and an acoustic guitar for a Tool-like break. This is a nice interlude and shows X-Vision may be more creative than has been shown already on So Close So Far, if only they would continue with more of this.

Final track ‘Theater of Appearances’ sounds budget and under-produced (and not in a rugged, garage way, more in a switched the drums for bins way) leaving me disappointed and slightly knackered after the final raspy yell dies down.

As far as progressive death metal goes, X-Vision aren’t bad. They’re just not overly good either. They sit nicely in the mediocre department unfortunately and, lacking creativity behind their music, they will be destined to stay there.
Basically, I just don’t get the over-all point of this album, and I’m pretty sure any die-hard metal fan will already have at least one album just like this in their collection already.

http://www.myspace.com/xvision