Reviews of A Disturbing Awakening

 

Québec Métal review of A Disturbing Awakening

Critique CD: Arapacis - A Disturbing Awakening (2014)
November 25, 2014 at 11:56am
Critique CD

Arapacis - A Disturbing Awakening (2014)

Le groupe:
Shelle Macpherson - Voix
Jerry Fielden - Guitares/Claviers/Basse/Back vocal

Artistes invitées:
Mathieu Roy - Batterie
Leonardo Fagelli - Clavier
Guy Leblanc (Camel) - Clavier
Don Airey (Deep Purple) – Clavier
Brittany Kwasnik - Back vocal
Tom Guevara - Growl back vocal

Les chansons:
01 - Sorrow of a Lost War
02 - Broken Windows
03 - Wanderlust
04 - With Ghosts, In Hell I Stand
05 - Godless
06 - Tearing the Mist
07 - Iron heart
08 - Eyes of Malevolence
09 - I’m Free Now

Arapacis n’est pas le dernier venu de la scène heavy métal Québécoise et a un lourd bagage d’expérience derrière avec pas moins de trois albums et un e.p. C’est un groupe de la Rive-Sud de Montréal qui officie dans un heavy métal classique empreint d’un beau mélange d’influence et sa particularité est d’avoir une femme au chant. Le groupe a vu le jour en 2003 et depuis a connu beaucoup de problèmes au niveau de son personnel. Aujourd’hui Arapacis nous arrive avec l’album A Disturbing Awakening. Allons voir ensemble ce que renferme cette nouvelle offrande.

Le tout débute par la piece Sorrow of a Lost War et dès le début, on retourne au source de ce qu’était le heavy métal. Rythmique rapide et fort efficace. La voix de Shelle Macpherson est majestueuse et se marie très bien à ce heavy métal. Tout y est... même le clavier de Leonardo Fagelli est sublime et nous ramène à l’époque du rock des années soixante-dix. La guitare de Jerry Fielden est solide et son solo est magnifique. Des cris ici et là, toute la sauce pour une pièce classique y est. Une forte entrée en matière. Broken Windows est plus lente, voir sombre dans son ensemble musical; il est facile de se laisser emporter par son rythme. Il y a beaucoup de changements d’atmosphère dû à la guitare mais fort efficace et la voix est toujours aussi bien faite. Subtilement on peut y entendre en back vocal la voix de Brittany Kwasnik. Un bon mélange de rock et de progressif sur cette dernière. Wanderlust ne déroge pas au rythme imposé car avec cette dernière, on se sent encore dans un rock lourd des années soixante-dix. Un bon son de clavier qui est cette fois-ci fait par Guy Leblanc. Du côté de la guitare, un bon mélange progressif et heavy à la fois tout en étant hyper mélodique. Avec With Ghosts, In Hell i Stand, Jerry Fielden nous montre toute l’étendue de son talent musical avec la mandoline. Une chanson fort différente lorgnant entre le folk et le rock progressif. La guitare demeure quand même heavy lors de son solo et la batterie très efficace. On peut encore y entendre la voix de Brittany Kwasnik en back vocal mais aussi une voix growl qui est faite par Tom Guevara. Courte pièce mais très intéressante. Godless débute par la basse encore une fois pratiqué par Jerry Fielden. Cette dernière a une ambiance nettement plus heavy et sombre par la voix douce de Shelle Macpherson mais ne vous laisser pas berner car son cri growl et aigu la rend légèrement diabolique. Une chanson qui a beaucoup d’ambiance malgré sa lenteur et le tout se termine par le son growl de Tom Guevara. Tearing the Mist a une approche plus classique et acoustique au début mais dès que le rythme débute, je me retrouve vraiment dans le passé. L’ambiance des claviers est faite par l’unique Don Airey de Deep Purple et ça se ressent. La guitare demeure heavy mais avec l’atmosphère qui se dégage de l’ensemble de la pièce, je ne peux y mettre un style. Une chose est sûre, cette dernière est une pièce quasi parfaite. Un clavier sublime, une chanson dans la plus pure tradition Purple mais à la sauce Arapacis. Iron Heart est nettement plus douce dans son ensemble et se démarque un peu du heavy métal ou du progressif. Je dirai une bonne transition entre ce qu’on a entendu depuis le début et ce qui sûrement s’en vient. Eyes of Malevolence débute lentement au son de la guitare, mélodieuse mais attention elle n’y restera pas longtemps car la guitare s’amplifie et redevient nettement plus heavy métal. Une pièce totalement instrumentale où tous les instruments sont fait par Jerry Fielden hormis la batterie et la rythme guitare qui est faite par Mathieu Roy. Grâce à cette dernière, le talent de ce multi homme-orchestre qu’est Jerry Fielden n’est plus à douter. Vraiment ambiancé et fort bien faite, rythmique rapide à certain moment que ça soit de la guitare ou de la batterie, comme pièce instrumentale, on n’a pas le temps de s’ennuyer tellement il y a de nuances et de subtilités. À classer dans du heavy métal pure race. A noter que cette pièce instrumental a été entièrement composer par Mathieu Roy. I’m Free now est la dernière chanson de l’album et est plutôt surprenante mais dans le bon sens du terme. Une chanson nettement plus bluesy que tout ce qu’on a entendu jusqu’à maintenant sur l’album. Très bonne guitare et le solo est magistral. Un bon clin d’œil à toutes les influences qui ont fait du rock et du progressif des années soixante-dix et ça jusqu’à la naissance du heavy métal, car tous ces styles ont subi l’influence du blues.

A Disturbing Awakening est un album plein de surprises, tantôt heavy dans la plus pure tradition, tantôt progressif, tantôt blues ou rock, le mélange des styles n’arrête pas. Arapacis et plus particulièrement Jerry Fielden a su s’entourer de gens de haut niveau et remplis de talents et d’expérience. La voix de Shelle Macpherson est superbe et se marie bien au style des compositions. Ici je crois que je n’ai plus rien à dire sur le talent musical de Jerry qui le prouve tout au long de l’album. Un ensemble de chansons très variées. Les variations de style nous ramènent vraiment dans l’époque du rock pur et dur ce qui a mon avis nous manque aujourd’hui avec tous ces styles qui se mélangent. Si on regarde la discographie du groupe, on constatera que le groupe a touché à tout ou presque et qu’avec A Disturbing Awakening, il est arrivé avec un album nettement plus complet. C’est un album qui touchera beaucoup de monde, j’en suis sûr tellement la variété y est. A avoir dans sa discographie à tout prix.

Ma note 9/10

Alain Labonte (Québec-Métal)
 
https://www.facebook.com/notes/qu%C3%A9bec-m%C3%A9tal/critique-cd-arapacis-a-disturbing-awakening-2014/817547908288104



Journal Voir

Arapacis: L’album « A Disturbing Awakening » en analyse
18 décembre 2014 5h01 · Yanick Klimbo Tremblay


Arapacis
A Disturbing Awakening
Ravenheart Music


Ne te laisse pas entourlouper par la pochette de l’album! Malgré une présentation qui te laisse planer l’idée face à une formation qui donnerait dans les mêmes cordages que Disturbed, ce n’est pas ce qui se retrouve sur cet album du groupe! Tout comme le jeu de Serpents & Échelles, ce groupe te fait reculer d’une bonne trentaine de cases… pour te ramener vers les premiers balbutiements du hard rock!
Effectivement, la formation montréalaise Arapacis ne se lance pas vers une révolution musicale. Ce qui se retrouve sur cet album, malgré sa pochette aux teintes modernes, est digne des vieux longs jeux de mon père… et je vais avoir 40 ans en janvier! La musique se veut donc un phénomène cyclique et certains genres demeurent indémodables par le fait même. Avec une facture antique, Arapacis peut combler ta passion face au hard rock qui se faisait entendre lors des années 70.
Tout comme lorsque l’on répare une chemise qui a perdu un bouton, Arapacis reprise le hard rock de la vieille école sans y ajouter d’éléments folichons qui dénatureraient le style préconisé sur cet album. La seule touche de modernisme que l’on retrouve sur cet album reste le changement de tonalité dans la voix de la chanteuse Shelle Macpherson qui prend une intonation plus reptilienne sur la chanson Godless. Mais pour le reste, c’est plutôt la parcelle chaleureuse mais musclée du genre qui domine.
Avec des guitares installées à l’avant-plan, on comprend qu’Arapacis passe son message par la six cordes. Sur Tearing the Mist, on sent que le travail à la guitare est ce qui a forgé cette chanson, surtout pour ce qui est du solo. Même phénomène avec Broken Windows malgré qu’elle soit plus lourde avec ses teintes qui rappellent la formation Huntress et Sorrow of a Lost War reçoit elle aussi une bonne décharge de guitares qui bidouillent une cadence qui te remet Judas Priest en bouche!
La chanteuse Shelle Macpherson n’est pas du genre cantatrice opératique. Sa voix est plutôt utilisée comme un complément et non pas comme un instrument primordial, malgré que le groupe semble vouloir mettre l’emphase sur la présence d’une dame au chant. Je trouve même que c’est lorsque que sa voix est en mode plutôt « criarde » et même bluesée que le tout prend plus de place, plus de volume et d’intensité comme sur I’m Free Now. Autre fait marquant, la présence de Don Airey de Deep Purple aux claviers et de Guy Leblanc de Camel!
Il est évident qu’Arapacis ne créera pas de vagues extrêmes face à ce genre musical. Ce qui se passe sur A Disturbing Awakening n’est aucunement innovateur et ce n’est pas le but du groupe, c’est évident. C’est plutôt un salut vers le passé avec une politesse certaine en plus d’une passion palpable face au rock, le tout exécuté honnêtement et avec les tripes!
Le lancement de l’album d’Arapacis se fera ce dimanche au Bistro de Paris lors d’un concert spécial en mode acoustique. C’est gratuit!
HTTP://WWW.ARAPACIS.COM/


CLASSÉ DANS : Critique, Musique
+ SUR LE MÊME SUJET : Arapacis, hard rock, montréal
L'opinion émise dans ce billet n'engage que son auteur et ne représente pas nécessairement celle du journal Voir.


http://voir.ca/chanceuxqueteux/2014/12/18/arapacis-lalbum-a-disturbing-awakening-en-analyse/


 

Black Phoenix Rising review


AraPacis - 'A Disturbing Awakening' Album (December, 2014)



AraPacis are a female fronted Classic Hard Rock/Progressive Rock/Doom/Metal band from Montreal in Canada, formed by Jerry Fielden in 2003. 'A Disturbing Awakening' is their 4th Album.



AraPacis are ....


SHELLE MACPHERSON - LEAD VOCALS

JERRY FIELDEN - LEAD GUITAR/SYNTHESIZERS/BASS/MANDOLIN/BACKING VOCALS


GUEST MUSICIANS


MATTHEW ROY - DRUMS

DON AIREY - KEYBOARDS

GUY LEBLANC - KEYBOARDS

LEONARDO FAGELLI - KEYBOARDS






Let us take a journey through the album with this track by track review.

1. SORROW OF A LOST WAR - Opening with some superb classic riffs that remind me a lot of Deep Purple, some brief screams and we are off at a fast pace, like an express train rolling down the track. Shelle comes in with some very strong vocals and we are off headbanging straight away. A steady drumbeat provides a hard backbone, the chorus is infectious and leaves an imprint on your mind that will stay with you forever. Classic keyboards come into the track as it powers along with high octane energy. There are some soaring guitar solos from Jerry that scream their way through you. This is classic rock at it's best, with some piercing screams added to the texture, as the track builds to a great finish.
RUNNING TIME. 4.1O MINS.


2. BROKEN WINDOWS - An absorbing slow burner with Sabbath like doom riffs that begin to crush your brain cells. Shelle comes in with a venomous edge to her vocals, spitting out poison, sounding very evil and scary as the pulsating beat drags you down into a dark abyss. This is heavy, oppressive and doom laden, casting evil dark shadows all around. The chugging beat really gets to you on this number and Shelle uses her voice to good effect to entice you further into this heavy, moody number. Great construction that won't let you go and some great lead guitar playing that takes you out to the finish. PHEW!.
RUNNING TIME. 4.43 MINS.


3. WANDERLUST - Superb Deep Purple style keys open the track as it then evolves into classic hard rock mode. Shelle enters with some gutsy rock vocals as the chugging bass licks stomp along with a slow burning heavy pace as the track starts to batter your senses. Great progressive rock elements are added, giving a distinctive flavour to the mix. The progressive style is excellently done and is reminiscence of some of the great prog bands of the 70's, yet still sounding fresh and new. This number is a melting pot of delightful styles to unravel. The track maintains a heavy, dark edge that even evolves to a slight boogie style beat later on that takes you along in its wake, then changing yet again before the ending that finishes with a mellow piano. PERFECTION.
RUNNING TIME. 5.59 MINS.



4. WITH GHOSTS, IN HELL I STAND - This track opens with some excellent mandolin playing and brief intermittent guitar bursts. The track sparks into life with a mixture of sounds, hard prog rock with an underlying folky feel. Shelle is on excellent form, providing some hypnotic style vocals. This is a lighter track with a stomping, folky beat with a medieval feel that has a modern twist. The sound of the mandolin really leaves an imprint in your mind, a great blend of musical styles that bounces along with a delightful, infectious beat. Some gutteral growls are thrown in at the end to give a nasty, edgy finish.
RUNNING TIME. 3.46 MINS.


5. GODLESS - We are hit with a deep, doom laden bass from the depths of hell itself as the track starts to throw out some slow burning riffs and echoing nasty laughter. Shelle enters the fray with very evil sounding gutteral vocals, like a spitting cobra, before alternating to siren like clean vocals. The whole track is overwhelming, full of doom and horror, which will compress your brain cells into mush. There is no escape from this torment as it destroys your soul. Shelle delivers a fine vocal performance against the dark, heavy, gloomy sounds.
RUNNING TIME. 4.52 MINS.


6. TEARING THE MIST - A lighter start with some wonderful guitar strumming, accompanying keys and softer vocals, from Shelle, that caress your soul. A spark ignites the track and we enter a slow burning, hard rock number with a slight prog style and heavy undertones as Shelle's vocals become slightly more aggressive. The keys are strong, adding a great element to the number as the track flows in and out of different changes with ease. Jerry's guitar work is superb, really giving the track a great vibe alongside the soaring keyboards that take over just after mid way. There is a brief moment where the track has more of a prog style aura accompanied by some whispered vocals from Shelle before the track goes back to the earlier beat to take us out to a strong ending.
RUNNING TIME. 5.10 MINS.



7. IRON HEART - Some gentle guitar work in the intro creates a wonderful aura, providing a respite from the previous heavy tracks. Shelle comes in with some alluring soft vocals as the track goes into a slower, mellow style. The guitar work really gets into your system with its light vibrating aura. Shelle holds your hand throughout this number, her vocals ooze feeling as the track evolves, drawing you into its heart. A steady drumbeat provides the perfect backbone and midway through Shelle's vocals take on a haunting feel alongside the keyboards. The number returns back to it's original flavour as you are transported to some pleasant place where you can get lost in your own thoughts. A beautiful, mellow number that is full of delight.
RUNNING TIME. 5.51 MINS.


8. EYES OF MALEVOLENCE - This track is an instrumental tour de force. Beginning with a mellow vibe as the band slowly come in creating a simmering, bubbling effect that is trance like and hypnotic as it takes hold of you before roaring bursts of guitar riffs batter your senses and drill into you. We then have a brief drum solo as the track evolves into a different section where the bass gets heavier and the keys make an entrance as the track really comes into its own. Jerry's guitar playing soars with some great licks / shredding which is backed by a powerful wall of sound as the number climbs to great heights. We then go into another section that thunders along like an express train with the guitar work bordering on thrash mixed with hard driving Metal. There's no chance of getting off this ride, it's a one way journey into oblivion. Manic stuff that maintains a hard driving beat throughout, shredding every ounce of life from you right to the end.
RUNNING TIME. 6.53 MINS.


9. I'M FREE NOW - We are off in a very old school, classic, bluesy, hard rock style. The guitar work and beat is very 70's influenced but with a great modern take. Shelle enters with some hard, heavy rock edged vocals, getting down and dirty here with this track that grinds its way into you with its gutsy, bluesy rock and moody feel. Shelle lets out some very mean screams towards the latter part of the track, as this great horny number closes the album.
RUNNING TIME. 3.25 MINS.


WOW,WOW,WOW, What do we have here. AraPacis have really excelled themselves with this album which provides us with an excellent variety of Rock / Metal styles to please fans of all genres. Nods towards Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and 70's Prog bands but given a modern twist that gels together perfectly. There is not one bad track and I cannot pick a favourite as they are all so great in my opinion. A very worthy addition to any Rock / Matal fans collection. SUPERB, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LISTENING ..... 10/10

femmepower @ Black Phoenix Rising



For more info on AraPacis visit the following sites


www.arapacis.com/

www.facebook.com/arapacis



http://blackphoenixrising.freeforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=2059


 

ProgMontreal review of A Disturbing Awakening

"AraPacis - A Disturbing Awakening:
One of the best albums of the AraPacis discography! Excellent production, catchy tunes, definitely a little vibe that will remind you of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Rush. And with contributions on keyboards by Guy Leblanc (Nathan Mahl) and Don Airey (Deep Purple), it sounds like thunder! A Disturbing Awakening will be available at all good indie record stores including Freeson Rock as well as through the band's online store at http://www.arapacis.com/index.htm"

http://www.progmontreal.com/eng/main_eng.html

 


Review from the Metal Mag:

Arapacis :"A disturbing awakening" CD 2014 Self produced Canadian Rock/Hard Rock band. The former musicians Jerry Fielden who has written all the lyrics and composed this band sent me his CD. I must say this is a good project that might have difficulties to play live unless the female singer has all the capabilities heard on the album. Shelle Mc Pherson has many voices one like Michelle Branch with a classical guitar and another one who sometimes reminds me the early 80's hard rock female fronted bands. The album has a wide influence as it goes from Mike Oldfield to Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Hendrix , Even black Metal on one song with with growls. Some guests musicians to color the album .You see it's pretty much open minded artist wink emoticon I myself prefer the songs with the melodies...But the first track will get all the 70's people into it! Check them out it's really nice band.


http://www.metalzoneprod666.com/Reviews2014-end.html


Ravenheart Music review

ARAPACIS...'A DISTURBING AWAKENING'

(Ravenheart Music/Code7) Reviewed 4th Feb 2015

Arapacis come from Canada and are stalwarts of the Rock and Metal scene. This release is distributed by Ravenheart Music/Code7 and I have the pleasure of reviewing this album for Dave and Ravenheart Music, of which it is my greatest pleasure to do. As I think I may have mentioned before, I might be the innocent looking 'girl next door' type and wear pink on occasion, but I do like my music heavy and with attitude. Arapacis offer up a retro 70's sound generally and drag it by the short and curlies into the 21st Century, offering nine rather good tracks in the process. Furthermore, within the gems on offer, the very good track and one of my faves 'Wanderlust' features Guy LeBlanc from Camel on keys, and the equally as good 'Tearing The Mist' has the awesome Don Airey tickling the ivories, and tickle them he sure does! Those two musicians alone would get my dad rather excited. Regardless of who the guest musicians are, this is a good recording and having listened to some other Arapacis stuff to familiarise myself with the band, this could be one of their best releases to date. The musicianship is awesome, some great guitar and keys, and let us not forget new vocalist Shelle Macpherson who does a grand job behind the mic stand. And I would like to add that the penultimate number 'Eyes of Malevolence' is an orgasmic instrumental. I would myself recommend this release no matter what label it is on, so if you like your music with a retro feel offering up a true organic sound, get it! Great stuff Jerry!! The band's Facebook is at www.facebook.com/AraPacis .. 9/10 (The Nugget)

http://www.ravenheartmusic.com/products-group-95.html

 

 


Thorium Webzine

CRITIQUE D’ALBUM : ARAPACIS – A DISTURBING AWAKENING

Malgré la longue carrière de la formation montréalaise Arapacis, A Disturbing Awakening est seulement leur quatrième album. Bien que les musiciens se soient succédé à plusieurs reprises, le groupe continue de jouer une musique rock progressive inspirée principalement des années 70s. Le groupe est donc composé de Jerry Fielden (guitares et basse), de Shelle Macpherson (chant) et de Mathieu Roy (batteur invité sur l’album).


On se rend compte dès les premières notes du titre Sorrow Of A Lost War que le groupe Deep Purple est une grande influence pour la formation montréalaise. Même si la musique est axée sur une mélodie de guitare et de claviers (l’œuvre de Leonardo Fagelli), la voix de Shelle ne laisse pas sa place et s’agence bien avec la musique. Ne délaissant pas leur passion pour la musique doom, le groupe nous offre une musique lourde, lente et axée sur le rythme avec le titre Broken Windows. Contenant plusieurs changements de cadence, on remarque que Shelle est plus à l’aise avec ce style musical en nous offrant une très bonne performance vocale. C’est sur la pièce Wanderlust que nous retrouvons Guy LeBlanc (Nathan Mahl et Camel) comme invité aux claviers. Malgré la complexité de la musique et les nombreux passages instrumentaux, cette dernière reste fluide et très entrainante. C’est avec une mélodie de mandoline rappelant la musique de Blackmore’s Night que débute la pièce With Ghosts, In Hell I Stand. Même si ce titre est très joyeux dans son ensemble, la fin est quant à elle plus lugubre avec les cris de Tom Guevara, ce qui nous prépare pour la pièce suivante (Godless) qui est centré sur les cris démoniaques de Shelle. Ce type de vocal est surprenant, mais va très bien avec la musique saccadée. L’une des meilleures pièces de l’album est sans contredit Tearing The Mist. En plus de mettre en évidence l’excellent travail de Jerry à la guitare, on y retrouve aussi Don Airey (Deep Purple) aux claviers. L’instrumentale Eyes Of Malevolence rappellera quant à elle la musique de Rush par moment avec ces accents rythmiques qui mettent en évidence autant Mathieu Roy à la batterie/guitare rythmique que Jerry à la guitare/basse/clavier.


Contenant une musique plus travaillée et une production de meilleure qualité, A Disturbing Awakening est un album fort agréable à écouter. Sa vision moderne de la musique des années 70 fera le bonheur de plusieurs amateurs qui aime ce style musical.

Note : 8/10 – Un nouvel album, un nouveau sommet pour le groupe
Auteur: Albert Lamoureux


http://www.thoriumphoto.com/critique-dalbum-arapacis-a-disturbing-awakening/

 


 

 

 

Metal Temple

AraPacis
A Disturbing Awakening
by Luke Shuckabruh Wheeler at 03 June 2015, 9:23 AM


Being an independent band who make the effort to push their album out for themselves and fans, shows a lot about this band, after researching into them and realising they’ve been doing this since 2003-present is phenomenal a lot of bands cave under the pressure and vanish from existence, but ARAPACIS are one of many bands who have achieved want they ventured out for! After listening to the album “A Disturbing Awakening” the vibe I got from the band was very much like (BLACK SABBATH and JUDAS PRIEST).

Some of the tracks off the album showed so many different influences from Doom, Black, Metal & Thrash, all the elements of each mixed and matched into one album creating one very interesting but also very crushing at the least.

While listening to the album over, there is a few things I picked up on from each track which felt as though with each passing song it was like the band tried a different style to offer on the album, which brings me to the point when I said influences like doom and black metal, in one specific track “Godless” which opened with a very HEAVY bass line, introducing the song in a monstrous way with one catchy riff which you can’t help but just bang your head in rhythm with the instruments and then Shelle releases this dark and very intimidating laugh, the song has a very doom and black metal feel with the strange and dark vocals follow Shelle this was one song on the album which really opened my eyes!

The album opens with a very crushing PRIEST style intro “Sorrow of a Lost War” fast drums and a piercing riff though the vocals seemed as though the vocalist seemed bored and uninterested her high screams at points were on point and solid. The next Track “Broken Windows” felt like early Down! The guitars tone was lowered and came to a very slow tempo that you can just mellow out to with the sound of bass and drums backing it bringing that doom but also stoner vibe to it!

Though this is the fourth album the band has pushed out, it’s very solid album this has the means to be ground-breaking the album itself to me seems as though it will become very underrated which is a shame cause its bands like this that need to be recognised anyone who is a fan of Doom, Stoner, Black give this album a listen you wouldn’t be let down!

Many bands try to fit in with the Metal genre of today and I’ve seen and heard so many bands come through the scene trying the same thing or doing the same thing as the band before, ARAPACIS brought a style into their scene which was the form of mixing genres together its bands like this that I hope to see leading the frontier of metal today!


4 Star Rating

Tracklist:
1. Sorrow of a lost war
2. Broken Windows
3. Wanderlust Feat. Guy LeBlanc
4. With ghosts, in hell I stand
5. Godless
6. Tearing the mist
7. Iron Heart
8. Eyes of the Malevolence
9. I’m free now

Lineup:
Shelle Macpherson - Vocals
Jerry Fielden – Lead Guitars, Backing Vocals, Bass, Mandolin, Synth

Guests:
Guy Leblanc – Keyboards
Don Airey - Keyboards
Record Label: Independent


http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/a_2/arapacis-a-disturbing.htm

 

 

 


 

 

ONDES CHOC REVIEW

 

Critique d’album: Arapacis – «A...

Posted by Marryah Noch Mulligore on July 8th, 2015
Arapacis - A disturbing awakening



ARAPACIS
«A Disturbing Awakening»
Ravenheart Music
OUT NOW



*English version follows
ARAPACIS est un band Québécois qui sonne Américain à en fendre l’air. Je dis ça sous forme de compliment. Ce qu’on entend sur «A Disturbing Awakening» en termes d’instrumentation, ça sonne assez proche de ce que des groupes comme BAD COMPANY et DEEP PURPLE ont assimilé de leurs influences des premières ères du blues et de l’école de pensée BLACK SABBATH, avec des influences doom plus modernes que j’associerais sans vraiment avoir besoin d’y repenser à des noms comme BLOOD CEREMONY et LUCIFER. Jusqu’à date ça me fait vraiment plaisir.

Je dois souligner que les riffs qu’on a ici, surtout les solos, sont vraiment des jams mémorables et entraînants qui ont le don de me surprendre; que le drumming apporte aussi sa touche éclectique pour soutenir l’originalité; ainsi que la pertinence du son qui refuse tout simplement de prendre trop ses aises dans un moule défini pour toute la durée de l’album, ce qui nous donne l’impression qu’on assiste ici à une session d’écriture vraiment tight. La production ajoute aussi à ce «rehearsal room feel». Ça peut sembler que je dis que ça manque de structure, mais c’est plutôt le contraire; c’est un tact tout naturel pour ce qui est efficace et ce qui l’est pas. Sur des albums de stoner rock et vintage doom, c’est facile d’identifier les tracks un peu plus lâches qui sont tellement «filler» qu’on arrive à se demander pourquoi ça se retrouve sur le produit fini. C’est un effort conscient pour garder le matériel réellement engageant et vraiment déployé par ce groupe de musiciens futés et recommendables.

La seule chose que j’aurais à redire est que la frontwoman pourrait s’accorder plus de crédit car elle a réellement un range all-encapsulating et gritty, avec une réelle personnalité qui sait me prendre complètement au dépourvu dans ses expérimentations- par contre j’entends un peu trop de retenue sur certaines pièces, et je pense que ce genre de talent devrait être pas mal plus imbu de lui-même, car ce n’est pas un défaut de vanter ses mérites quand ceux-ci sont remarquablement épatants.

Je crois qu’ARAPACIS as a whole ont du stock pour définir leur identité propre à partir d’ici car ils démontrent qu’ils osent monter le son et s’arranger pour que la ville au complet les entende pendant qu’ils s’affairent à leurs rituels d’exploration. Je dois lever mon chapeau; ce genre de bravoure est rare dans le rock and roll moderne et ça me ramène dans le temps avec une bonne dose d’appréciation nostalgique. Je pense que le but de «A Disturbing Awakening» est probablement ciblé ici. Ceci étant le premier album d’ARAPACIS que j’entends dans leur discographie, je suis curieuse d’aller voir leur back-catalogue pour sonder ce qui les a menés ici et avoir une meilleure idée de leurs débuts, en espérant qu’ils se gâteront encore plus avec leurs jams positivement éméchés prochainement.

Petite note à prendre en compte: Guy Leblanc et Don Airey sont des musiciens de session sur deux des tracks. Allez deviner lesquelles. ;)

Noch la Décapiteuse





ARAPACIS is a band from around Montreal that couldn’t sound more American. I say this as a compliment. What we hear on «A Disturbing Awakening» in terms of instrumentation, sounds pretty close to what bands like BAD COMPANY and DEEP PURPLE have assimilated from their early blues eras influences and from the BLACK SABBATH school of thought, with more modern doom influences that I would associate without second thoughts to names like BLOOD CEREMONY and LUCIFER. So far it really makes me happy.

I must emphasize that the riffs we have here, especially the solos are really catchy and memorable jams that have the knack to surprise me; the drumming also brings his eclectic touch to support the originality; and the relevance of the sound that simply refuses to take his ease too nor set in a mold for the duration of the album, gives us the impression that we are witnessing here a really tight writing session. The production also adds to this «rehearsal room feel». It may seem that I say it lacks structure, but rather the opposite; it is a natural tact to what is effective and what is not. On albums of stoner rock and vintage doom, it’s easy to identify the tracks which are fillers that makes me begin to wonder why it ended up on the finished product. It is a conscious effort to keep truly engaging material is really made ​​by this band of smart and recommendable musicians.

The only thing I would put on the down side is that the frontwoman should give more credence to her voice because it actually has an all-encapsulating and gritty range, with a real personality who can take me completely by surprise in its experimentations. unfortunately I hear too much restraint on certain songs, and I think that kind of talent should be a lot more imbued with herself, because it is not a flaw to extol its merits when they are astonishingly remarkable.

I think as a whole ARAPACIS have plenty of good stuff to define their own identity because they demonstrate they dare to turn up the volume and make sure the entire city hear them while being busy at their exploration rituals. I have to tip my hat; this kind of bravery is rare in the modern rock and roll and it takes me back in time with a good dose of nostalgic appreciation. I think that the purpose of «A Disturbing Awakening» is probably targeted here. This being the first Arapacis album I hear of their discography, I’m curious to hear their back catalog to probe what led them here and have a better idea of ​​their debut, hoping they’ll push forward their spaced out jams soon.

Guy Leblanc and Don Airey are session musicians on two of the tracks. Can you guess which?

Noch la Décapiteuse

http://ondeschocs.com/critique-dalbum-arapacis-a-disturbing-awakening/

 

 


 

 

Brutalism Review

Arapacis
A Disturbing Awakening

Track Listing:
Sorrow Of A Lost War
Broken Windows
Wanderlust
With Ghosts, In Hell I Stand
Godless
Tearing The Mist
Iron Heart
Eyes Of Malevolence
I'm Free Now


Rating:
5


Arapacis birthed out from Canada's music capital - the most wicked city of Montreal which rests in the beautiful province of Quebec and this band has been forging it's way through the Montreal music scene since 2004. Founded by inspirational musician/song writer Jerry Fielden (lead guitarist) Arapacis has forgone many ups and downs throughout it's existence among countless changeovers in lineup Jerry never gave up and always found a way to keep on creating and putting out unique edgy goth-doom prog rock and only until now has Arapacis come to find solid ground with a serious lineup which includes some serious guest musicians to top it. As it stands this bands solid lineup and foundation are it's founder Jerry Fielden - lead guitar, synthesizers, back vocals, bass, mandoli and his lovely wife Shelle Macpherson- lead vocals.

"A Disturbing Awakening" is the first Arapacis album which features the haunting yet brutal vocals of Shelle Macpherson and I must state having heard this bands earlier works that Shelle and Jerry are the perfect team and Shells's vocals are the best to have ever graced this band. Guest musicians who took part in helping to make "A Disturbing Awakening" a force to be reckoned with are: Leonardo Fagelli (an original member of Arapacis), Guy LeBlanc of prog group Camel, Mathieu Roy, Brittany Kwasinic, Tom Guevara and Don Airey of the legendary Deep Purple.

"A Disturbing Awakening" is a melody of musical influences bringing together elements of jazz,doom, goth, 70's prog, good old hard rock metal and it even has some black metal lacings ,now being able to make all of this work smoothly and dancing together nicely without it becoming a tragic chaos is an achievement in itself and something which only Arapacis could pull off. This album is definitely unique being both dark and happily melodic. The riffs are super catching with a lot going on, very skilled solo work yet doesn't make it sound so complicated. Everything is tight with each track bringing the listener to a different level, another dynamic of the album's music and what these talented musicians can do. The musicianship is awesome and really together with structure and content. Shelle Macpherson's vocals are both angelic and at times she can be the devil incarnate. All screeches, growls and screaming high notes are under total control being executed with utter ease. My favored tracks would have to be the very gothic doom vibe and sound of 'Godless'. This track is eerie, bone chilling goodness and Shelle's vocals are amazingly scary. The black metal influence is definitely awakened within the vocals here and love the gothic clean vocals which Shelle pulls of with total class. As beubg from the local Montreal scene myself I must state that Shelle Macpherson has the best female black and doom metal vocals this city has to offer.

Another track which really stands out for me is 'Eyes Of Malevolence', no vocals here just brutal instrumental which brings in some metalcore, thrash elements blended with a touch of prog almost dare I say it - prog holding an influence of Rush and or Genesis (eek, I hate those bands but can appreciated their talent for what they do and find that Arapacis can bring in those elements without making me want to vomit hehe)… There is even a touch of Metallica in the thrash sound which also hovers a mist over this track. The guitar work just takes the listener into it's world, what can I say amazing finger work, emotion and feeling.

I cannot say enough good things about this multi-vibe album. I highly recommend to try something different and give it a spin. Arapacis with their 4th full length release " A Disturbing Awakening" get all the stars from me.


July 18, 2015 - 10:23Posted by Kindra RavenMoon

http://brutalism.com/content/arapacis-a-disturbing-awakening

 


 


METAL MAIDENS REVIEW

 

ARAPACIS-A disturbing Awakening (independent)


Are you awake yet? Well, go and listen to the new ARAPACIS album. This will wake you up for sure. The first riffs on “A Disturbing Awakening” will crush your skull. And guess what? I’m sure, you’re gonna like it. Fast guitar riffs, heavy drum beats and keyboards go hand in hand in the best DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW tradition. This is heavy metal crossed with seventies rock and that’s exactly the way, that I like it. What a great way to start this fourth album, that contains nine tracks and forty-five minutes of heavy loaded stuff. Have a bite at “Broken Windows”. Not literally of course, or it’ll cost you your jaws, but have a taste of this dark, almost doomy blast, that is on next. The speed change is there at the end and during the last guitar part, the excitement flows right to your brains. “Wanderlust” has got a real seventies feel, because of the organ sound, that gives it a very warm and cozy feeling. But there is a lot more happening here. Shelle’s vocals fit in just perfectly with the slightly psychedelic feeling, that comes with this song. EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER-like keyboards turn this musical carousel go round and round and I think, that the bluesy ending is the biggest surprise, they have in mind for us in this crazy rock experience. “With Ghosts, In Hell I Stand” sounds like a heavy version of MIKE OLDFIELD, especially the guitar sound and the music in the background. The growls in the end are not disturbing and they match quite well with the energy in this song. It asks for something brutal and these growls are the missing link here, I’d say. The growls of Tom "Thodrekr" Guevara along with Shelle sound much more brutal in “Godless”. Is this an attempt to please some black metal fans as well? It matches the title very well though. If you’re without a ‘God’, you will not sound like a bright, white shining angel. You will sound mean, brutal and angry, like they do. As you can see, the musical styles are very different all the time, which makes it a very pleasant trip. In “Tearing The Mist” ARAPACIS calls in the help of legendary keyboard player Don Airey (who has played with every band in the world!). The song opens with some moody acoustic guitars and Shelle’s voice gives it another seventies feeling. When the guitars start, this feeling doesn’t go away. In the middle of the song, the keyboards wrestle with the guitar and again the name of DEEP PURPLE comes to mind. Especially when Don takes over in this undecided battle. It must have been a great experience to have such an all-time hero playing on your album. “Iron Heart” starts off with some acoustics. It’s a dreamy song, that’s being played with a lot of emotion. You probably have been expecting something different here, but ARAPACIS is full of surprises and there’s never a dull moment with this band. “Eyes Of Malevolence” opens with a rare, dark black metal-like sound. It sounds very sphereful and moody at the same time. The song stays instrumental and slowly works itself to a nice climax with loads of nice guitar work. Especially after the speed break, Jerry completely loses his mind and even some blast beats turn up for a second or two. It’s really amazing how an acoustic track can develop into a very powerful and energetic black metal-like track. However, CD closer “I’m Free Now” sounds so much different. I’d rather call this Southern Rock with a bluesy feel. The awesome guitars and raunchy raw vocal of Shelle sound really great here! My mind goes out to bands like POINT BLANK or maybe even MOLLY HATCHET or LYNYRD SKYNYRD, but it’s all done in an ARAPACIS kind of way of course. The variation in music styles and the true craftsmanship of these well-gifted musicians will make you cling to your player for sure. ARAPACIS consists of two official members nowadays and that’s Jerry Fielden on guitar, bass, synths, mandolin and backing vocals and the more than beautiful Shelle MacPherson on lead vocals. They have been assisted by the following guest musicans: Mathieu Roy (guest drums and guitars on "Eyes Of Malevolence"), Tom "Thodrekr" Guevara (guest growls), Brittany Kwasnik (guest backing vocals), Leonardo Fagelli (guest keyboards), Guy Leblanc (guest keyboards - R.I.P. 2015) and Don Airey (guest keyboards). The ARAPACIS website http://www.arapacis.com will give you all the information you need about this Canadian metal band. [9 points] (Toine van Poorten)

 

 

http://www.metalmaidens.com/Cdreviews2u.htm

 

 

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