Album Review: Sons Of Apollo - MMXX

I'm not sure there's a way to talk about Sons Of Apollo without finding ourselves mired in the comparisons we really shouldn't have to deal with. We should be able to talk about the music on its own without addressing any of the outside concerns, but some of those did play upon the music, so let's get them out of the way early. Sons Of Apollo did themselves a disservice when they hyped up their inception by calling themselves a prog metal supergroup. Let's leave aside the comparisons to the members' former groups, but just on its own, the comment made people expect a progressive metal album. What we got was an album that was half technically astute hard rock/metal, and half more traditional prog metal. I obviously preferred one half to the other, but I will say I was put off a bit when the band then tried to backtrack and say we were wrong for expecting what they told us the band was going to be.

They shouldn't have been promoting themselves until they knew who they were. Lesson learned?

That's what we find out with their second album, which has the benefit of a record/tour cycle behind it. The band has played together, both live and in the studio, and they should have a better understanding of who Sons Of Apollo are.

"Goodbye Divinity" is both the first single, and the opening track, and it welcomes us back to their world with the best elements of the debut. The playing is excellent, the sound is low-tuned and heavy, and Jeff Scott Soto gives the band a strong melodic edge. It's very modern, but anchored on strong songwriting, very much like the singles from the debut album, which I felt were the best tracks on that record. There is a lack of highly proficient melodic rock/metal, which is a niche that Sons Of Apollo can definitely fill. Tracks like this one prove that point with ease.

Although the band keeps the running times relatively compact, save for the fifteen minute closing epic, a funny thing happens once we get past the opener. The next two tracks, "Wither To Black" and "Asphyixiation" both see the melody sanded down in favor of a more rhythmic vocal approach, which might make the songs sound heavier, but it doesn't make them as memorable. I shouldn't be surprised, though, since the same exact thing happened with Mike Portnoy's other recent band, The Winery Dogs.

With "King Of Delusion", we got the second longest track, and one that relies heavily on establishing a groove with the guitars. Between that approach, and the type of melody Soto brings to the table, it reminds me a bit of Dio's "Master Of The Moon" album. This song has a solo piano intro, and some heavy grooves, so it's crying out to have a suitably epic chorus, but that never comes. Soto's work throughout the record is lacking the snap and hookiness that "Coming Home" or especially "Alive" brought to the first record. These songs are, if anything, more subtle this time around.

I like the band's focus on this album. They have picked an identity for who they are going to be, and they largely stick to that, so this record holds together as a more cohesive piece. That being said, this collection doesn't have those couple of great melodic tracks that appeal to listeners such as myself. This is less of a prog metal album than the first, but it feels more like one, in that it's not a very immediate listening experience. If you don't focus on the details of what's going on, it's easy to have the melodies slip by unnoticed.

And herein lies the issue; Sons Of Apollo are a band with immeasurable talents.... except for the most important one of all. They are all among the best at what they do, but this record spends fifty-one of its fifty-eight minutes displaying a lack of virtuosity in the songwriting department. The playing and singing is excellent, and there are good ideas to build on, but the core melodic songwriting that people who aren't hardcore musicians grab on to (that would be me, if you can't tell) are largely missing. The myriad solos in "New World Today" are impressive, but where's the hook I'll be singing to myself while I wait for my cup of coffee to finish brewing?

Sons Of Apollo have simultaneously taken a step forward by defining who they are, and a step backward in delivering an album that is less of either side of the coin. It's not like this is a bad record, but it doesn't live up to even their flawed debut. They could, and really should, be doing so, so much better than this.