Author Topic: The official Aeon Zen thread  (Read 8372 times)

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Offline obscure

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The official Aeon Zen thread
« on: January 27, 2013, 01:23:06 AM »
I've been waiting for their latest album, Enigma and man.. was it worth the wait!!!

You want to get this one! Just saying!
AEON ZEN "Divinity"

^ that's the heaviest song ...there is a huge variety of songs on the album... and all impeccable..

Quick overview..

Aeon Zen is Rich Hinks on guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, vocals, & programming with Andi Kravljaca on vocals, Shaz on keys, Steve Burton on drums and Matt Shepherd on guitars. Enigma also features Jonny Tatum of Eumeria, Atle Petterson of Above Symmetry and Nate Loosemore of Lost in Thought… WUT?!! :drool:

Best selection / combination / placement of vocalists after Star One... Actually I would go as far as to say Rich Hinks is a young Lucassen...
He carries out the production, mixing & mastering duties in addition to his lead guitar, keys, bass, saxophone… composes all the songs…and  sings as well  :omg:

He must have worked hard on every detail here as the album is impeccable from start to finish; from the pristine production to selection and placement of the vocalists, from the flow to the mastery in execution it is a masterpiece.

The music is complex but it is, I mean the complexity, is hiding so skilfully behind the melody, you don’t get the feeling that the substrate work is any convoluted. It is very technical yet does not sound technical… It is so heartfelt, it is more accessible than it would have been with what the technical complexity implies there…


Any other fans?
« Last Edit: January 29, 2013, 01:36:37 AM by obscure »

Offline jingle.boy

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2013, 05:20:55 AM »
Heard of them, but have not heard them.  Loosemore and Tatum you say??  Damn you.  Might have to check this out. 

*goesandchecksvideo*

Good... but you know me and growlies.   :-\
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Offline obscure

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2013, 07:08:37 AM »
Chad... I know your taste.. trust me, buy the album and thank me later.... that song does not represent the majority of the album...
Look at those vocalists I mentioned, can you see any growlers in that bunch?
Oh you can also read my full review ;)

Check this out: Aeon Zen - Redemption's Shadow and then multiply that by ten....
Previous album's trailer: AEON ZEN - The Face of the Unknown

Offline Zook

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2013, 07:51:41 AM »
I found out about Aeon Zen from Circus Maximus' forum since Michael Eriksen sings on a couple songs on The Face of the Unknown, and after listening to it, I had to buy it. Besides Michael, there are some exellent vocalists on that album, and the songs are super melodic and catchy with some great prog metal going on. I heard Enigma a while ago, and thought it was OK, but I wanna give it another chance. The album is still streaming so I'll give it a listen today.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2013, 08:06:02 AM by Zook »

Offline obscure

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2013, 07:57:19 AM »
^ I love you  :heart

Offline Zook

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2013, 08:06:18 AM »
 :heart :heart :heart

Offline kirksnosehair

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2013, 09:32:05 AM »
Enigma samples on Amazon sounded great so I bought it.  Will listen on the way home from work tonight and at the gym in the morning.


Thanks for looking out for me, Nem  :heart

Offline Dr. DTVT

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2013, 11:11:59 AM »
I'll get it next time I order.  Might be a bit though.
     

Offline Zook

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2013, 11:48:47 AM »
Unfortunately this album is still only alright to me. The Face of the Unknown was catchier. Not to say there wasn't good music, but it didn't grab me instantly like the last album. Of course Michael Eriksen's involvement helped with that.

Offline obscure

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2013, 03:53:42 PM »
Enigma samples on Amazon sounded great so I bought it.  Will listen on the way home from work tonight and at the gym in the morning.


Thanks for looking out for me, Nem  :heart
:heart

Offline obscure

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2013, 12:32:27 AM »
I'll get it next time I order.  Might be a bit though.

Doc.. I will be looking forward to hearing what you think... This album owned me... I should start reviewing other albums but Enigma ruined me for music I guess.. Don't wanna listen to anything else...

Damn you Rich Hinks!!!!




Unfortunately this album is still only alright to me. The Face of the Unknown was catchier. Not to say there wasn't good music, but it didn't grab me instantly like the last album. Of course Michael Eriksen's involvement helped with that.

Glad you say that Zook... because 'The Face of the Unknown' is a masterful album indeed... Michael is shining as he always does... Salvation :drool:

Let's not forget the other vocalists... Aeon Zen's own  Andi Kravljaca (Silent Call) along with Nick D'Virgillo (Spock's Beard), Jem Godfrey (Frost) and Jonny Tatum (Eumeria)  :o

Give this one a few more spins.. It's a grower...

'Warning' is killing me... dat chorus delivered by Andi, and the sick bridge after it... and the furious solo at the end.... dang!

'Downfall' and 'Eternal Snow' are other favourites....







I don't always start a band thread, but when I do I make sure I'm on your neck  :P


:blush



Offline lonestar

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2013, 12:57:10 AM »
OK, bought the album based on the one song you turned me on to a while back. Finally have a moment to dig into the thing fully.




BRB....

Offline obscure

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2013, 12:58:20 AM »
:caffeine:

Offline lonestar

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2013, 01:18:28 AM »
lol




OK, I gotta give a serious "holy shit!!!" to Seven Hills and Turned to Ash, incredible fucking songs.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2013, 01:23:46 AM by lonestar »

Offline obscure

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2013, 01:34:21 AM »

Offline lonestar

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2013, 01:48:33 AM »
:lolpalm:

Offline obscure

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2013, 01:57:08 AM »
 :biggrin:

Online wolfking

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2013, 02:22:13 AM »
And...another band added to my list.  Damn you guys.  :facepalm:
Everyone else, except Wolfking is wrong.

Offline obscure

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2013, 04:15:01 AM »
You heard the man... If an band find its way to wolfking's list.. They have to be good...

Offline Zook

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #19 on: January 29, 2013, 04:20:00 AM »
Nightwish disagrees.

Online wolfking

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #20 on: January 29, 2013, 04:26:43 AM »
Everyone else, except Wolfking is wrong.

Offline obscure

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #21 on: January 29, 2013, 04:47:17 AM »
ehahahaha ... oops sorry  :-X

Offline richzen

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #22 on: January 29, 2013, 04:53:39 AM »
Hey everyone! This is my first post after lurking for quite a while... Thanks to Nem for turning me on to this thread, and I just had to say a big thanks for all the cool responses. You guys are awesome  :heart

If you guys want to hear one of the more accessible tracks (for those of you that might not like growls, for example) then the first track on the music player at the bottom of www.aeonzen.com should hopefully have a bit of a wider appeal!

I personally think that Enigma is more of a grower than The Face of the Unknown, what with being a concept album and all, it's more of a musical journey than a song by song type album. That was the intent anyway  :)



Oh and Nem, it's actually a keyboard solo at the end of Warning  ;)

Offline obscure

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #23 on: January 29, 2013, 04:55:20 AM »
 :omg:   :lol   :heart   :blush


edit: I wasn't thinking .. I blame you!
« Last Edit: January 29, 2013, 05:10:10 AM by obscure »

Offline richzen

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #24 on: January 29, 2013, 04:56:50 AM »
 :-* :heart :hat

Offline obscure

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #25 on: January 29, 2013, 05:00:47 AM »
awww :hearts:

ok.. I will not derail my own thread and turn it into Rich Hinks & Nem love fest :P
Although I'm tempted to.... :lol

listening to Eternal Snow.... Damn you!!!!!

PS... I've just been to the FB page.. All the reviews coming in are awesome  :o... so .... just so you know guys.. I'm not the only fangirl/boi here.. I'm just the loudest one....

Offline MoraWintersoul

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #26 on: January 29, 2013, 05:13:14 AM »
That's okay, we like our Nem loud. :hat

Hopefully mr. Aeon Zen will stick around... these forums are awesome.

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Offline obscure

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #27 on: January 29, 2013, 05:18:43 AM »
thank you my luv... that's comforting... Because Nem is either loud or completely mute.. there is no other way..  :-\



PS.. who am I fooling? my all threads are doomed to be derailed...  :laugh:

Offline richzen

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #28 on: January 29, 2013, 05:43:55 AM »
Hopefully mr. Aeon Zen will stick around... these forums are awesome.

Hopefully!  ;) I shall do my best  :tup

Offline kirksnosehair

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Re: Aeon Zen
« Reply #29 on: January 29, 2013, 06:39:24 AM »
Heard of them, but have not heard them.  Loosemore and Tatum you say??  Damn you.  Might have to check this out. 

*goesandchecksvideo*

Good... but you know me and growlies.   :-\


There's almost no growling on the album, which I bought yesterday and have now listened twice.   I'd register the growling at less than 5% of the vocals, probably close to about 3% total.


Musically, there are definitely some very interesting twists and turns.  Not quite sure what I think of it just yet - need more spins to fully absorb it. I like it, but as Obscure has mentioned, there is a deceiving amount of complexity built around quite a bit of strong melody, and I have a feeling it will be one of those "grower" type albums.

Offline lonestar

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #30 on: January 29, 2013, 09:52:06 AM »
Hey everyone! This is my first post after lurking for quite a while... Thanks to Nem for turning me on to this thread, and I just had to say a big thanks for all the cool responses. You guys are awesome  :heart



Well what do you know, what's up Rich? Good to see you here.

Offline richzen

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #31 on: January 29, 2013, 03:11:04 PM »
Thanks RJ! Nice to be here  :)

Offline lonestar

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #32 on: January 29, 2013, 03:32:41 PM »
Kick ass album btw, just starting to really dig into it. Too bad Nem beat me to the review. :P

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #33 on: January 30, 2013, 06:17:32 AM »
I will check this out, but as a general rule, I hate albums with a bunch of different singers, and 3-5% growls is 3-5% too much.
would have thought the same thing but seeing the OP was TAC i immediately thought Maiden or DT related
Winger Theater Forums........or WTF.  ;D
TAC got a higher score than me in the electronic round? Honestly, can I just drop out now? :lol

Offline obscure

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Re: The official Aeon Zen thread
« Reply #34 on: January 30, 2013, 06:24:52 AM »
Turned to Ash ... the solo at the 2.50 minute mark  :heart