SKYHARBOR - GUIDING LIGHTS [REVIEW]

Band: Skyharbor

Album: Guiding Lights

Genre: Progressive Metal

Release Date: November 10, 2014

Label: Basick Records

Reviewer: Hashim AlNasser

Skyharbor are no strangers to the metal world. What started a project of guitarist Keshav Dhar back in 2010, it attracted the attention of TesseracT vocalist Daniel Tompkins and drummer Anup Sastry (Jeff Loomis) and having released their debut album 'Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos' back in 2011, time has seen them grow to opening for Lamb of God in India, Euroblast, Download as well as awards for Best Song, Best Album and Best Band at Rolling Stone India Metal Awards and a nomination for Global Metal Band at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods.

Released on the 10th of November 2014, their  sophomore album 'Guiding Lights' is a truly captivating listen from beginning to end.  Kicking off the album with purpose, the aptly named 'Allure' sets the perfect tone for the album, reintroducing their beautifully textured and melodic sound but with a difference. Completely funded by fans on a PledgeMusic campaign, Guiding Lights goes on to display the band's sound develop to more ambient passages, shying from their debut albums more riff-centric sound. 

Displaying the bands vast range of capabilities, I was particularly captivated by 'Guiding Light's musical composition. Skyharbor's development on themes and seamless transitions between hard-hitting rhythms and soaring tones had me listening intently. I absolutely loved the guitar work on this album, exploring the numerous dynamics of the instrument, (not to mention the truly inspirational solos) they alongside Daniel Tompkins' vocal ability make them a match made in melody. Backed by the tight bass work of Krishna Jhaveri and technically proficient grooves of Anup Sastry, Skyharbor are a musical force to be reckoned with and Guiding Lights is proof of that.

Produced by Australian producer Forrester Savell (of Karnivool and Animals as Leaders fame), the album definitely has a sound that almost completely wraps around you, guiding you throughout the album on an hour long musical feast. An album definitely worth setting time out of your day to listen to from beginning to end!

9/10

Check out Skyharbor's beautiful video for Patience off Guiding Lights!