Atoma – Skylight

According to the press release, AtomA play “Apocalpytic Post Rock/Metal” – whatever that actually means.  Usually when you get a pretentious load of garbage like that used to describe a band you know you’re not going to like it, but actually AtomA are very good.  Describing their music isnt easy – its certainly not easy to classify (probably why they came up with the apocalyptic post rock/metal description.  It’s got metal in there (but not a hge amount), mixed with a lot of synth driven music, a mix of clean vocals and growling vocals – it really is a mix.  I can certainly see it being of interest to fans of Prog music with its heavy use of synth and its very interesting mix of styles.

Some of the vocals in “Skylight” remind me of Fields of the Nephilim – the growly parts not the clean vocals, although musically its very different.  The song does vary quite a lot – the growling vocal parts sound almost like a separate song to the lighter parts where clean vocals are used

This is definitely an unusual album – the guitars are there but are buried beneath the layers of synth, but the result is very effective – its very atmospheric and enjoyable to listen to.  It really is hard to describe the music properly so I suggest you give AtomA a listen – you might be pleasantly surprised how good it is

Rating 7/10

Skylight is out now via Napalm records.

AtomA is:

Ehsan K – Vocals / Synth
Jari Lindholm – Guitar
Siavosh – Bass
Markus Hill – Drums

Track listing:

1. AtomA
2. Skylight
3. Hole in the sky
4. Highway
5. Bermuda Riviera
6. Resonance
7. Solaris
8. Rainmen
9. Saturn and I
10. Cloud Nine

About Ant May

I spend half my life at gigs or festivals and the other half writing the reviews and editing photos, and somehow find time for a full time job too. Who needs sleep - I've got coffee.