From the shimmering first strains of Audio Insight’s debut EP, Dimensions, it’s clear that this is a promising band with a great future, and a pretty respectable present.
The prog-heads among us will love the two-part title track that first appears after the intro track and dramatically concludes as the CD’s 11-minute closer. I’m speaking from experience here when I say, singer/guitarist Anthony Celi’s first croon, “Nothing is everything/Everything is nothing. Open your eyes/Open the blinds” will rattle around your head for weeks, in a good way.
The most striking and discerning part about this progressive rock trio from Woodbridge, NJ is the voice of singer/guitarist Anthony Celi. He’s not a growler, not a screamer; he can hit notes and he sounds like he actually knows what the hell he’s doing, without sounding shrill or whiney. Similar in pitch and tone to Claudio Sanchez (Coheed And Cambria) or Rody Walker (Protest The Hero), his voice is still on the raw side, but at only 18 years old, he’s got plenty of time to become even better.
The record’s single, “Sheepskin,” is a good representation of the band, with some of better instrumentation on the record, a good melody and one of the strongest vocal performances. The third track, “Crucify,” shows the band experimenting with significant instrumental work, tied together with a catchy verse and chorus. While “For The Corporations” is satisfactory when compared to the album’s other high points, with the exception of the perfectly-utilized screaming over the climactic final verse.
Celi admirably holds down the sole guitar duties of the trio, as well—mostly rhythm, with a few quick-fingered fills, some bi-dextral leads and whammy-pedal solos. Mike Deverin provides solid bass-playing, and courteously fills in the space during Celi’s leads, while Dan Sullivan brings the thump with some heavy drumming that might convert a few of the metalheads out there. The guy loves his double-bass pedal and his feet do most of the talking, although the triggered bass-drum tone (ala Fear Factory’s Demanufacture) doesn’t completely jive with the overall feel of the record.
Audio Insight has a ton of upside, and Dimensions is a record that you will spin more times than once. In spite of their youth, the band doesn’t stick to formulaic song writing. It’s melodic, energetic—frantic at times—and thoroughly agreeable, with appeal to fans of both progressive rock and post-hardcore.
In A Word: Capable
