NEED - Hegaiamas: a song for freedom

The new album of Athenian progressive metalheads,Need, is close to release. Following the highly acclaimed "Orvam", three years back, and a slot in the lineup of ProgPower USA, the bar was raised high. If the big bands cannot cope with high bars, can smaller ones? It remains to be proved. But the truth is that Need have tried hard to present something that can surpass "Orvam: a song for home". Let’s start talking about it.

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The album is on the same trail as "Orvam", but quite naturally makes significant progress. The spirit of "Orvam" is there; structurally "Hegaiamas: a song for freedom" has many resemblances. I can see that it is less ’gloomy’ than "Orvam", but it is again a complex album with numerous elements to watch. It is no wonder to any of you that good progressive metal albums have many layers. That is what "Hegaiamas" has. Stylistically it is what we simply call modern progressive metal. You do not have to go much further than Dream Theater, Fates Warning and Nevermore to get the idea of what you will find, although some references to Psychotic Waltz can be identified as well. As usual the orchestrations are voluminous and at the same time very refined. It will not be a bother for you to test it in various listening modes; try it with headphones and feel the vibes crawling under your skin, but listening throught speakers will make you see the “bigger image”.

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This complexity however is not depicted only in the music. Despite not having the lyrics, I can understand that we are placed in a dystopian and time-undefined setting, several different stories unfold, some personal, some not. This semantic layering reveals an interplay between freedom, security and manipulation on individuals and societies. Think of your reality now and reflect on this.

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It is obvious that the band has progressed a lot; there are many things attesting to this, just like the passionate performance of Giannis Voyantzis. But I can not hide that I was impressed by those absolutely fascinating detailed keyboards and bass parts, courtesy of Antony Hatzis and Viktor Kouloumpis respectively, that spice up the album. I have to also mention that Stelios Paschalis, the man behind the drums, is turning into a very important asset of the band, since he is a substantial part of the power (and rhythm) of the band. Of course, Georgios Tzavaras is realizing power with his riffing, but he also does the same for the many serene and melodic parts that come across the album. He works in almost a kaleidoscopic way.

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Can "Hegaiamas: a song for freedom" stand out in the worldwide arena of progressive metal where hundreds of bands strive for attention and recognition? Although the road is hard, the potential is there. It is the sublime value of the album that makes it shine; the combination of the finest elements of modern progressive metal - high musicianship, intriguing compositions, passion, melody, you name it - that all progressive metal aficionados search for. It will not dethrone any of the main progressive metal bands we all know and love, such as Dream Theater or Fates Warning (although to be honest they easily compete with some of those bands’ latest releases), but it is definitely is on the same level as second-wave bands, such as Redemption or Vanden Plas. I am not exaggerating, believe me.If you do not believe me, go get the album and see for yourselves.

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Giannis Tsakonas

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