Subsignal have a unique sound, and I feel like that sound is becoming even more special as they progress. Their new album A Poetry of Rain released on September 22nd, and as a longtime fan, I am greatly appreciating the little touches that only they could have created.
The band comes to us from Germany. They’ve been at it since 2007 when the band emerged from the ashes of Sieges Even. I’ve been a fan since 2011’s Touchstones, which is still a heavy masterwork, and indeed their 2009 debut Beautiful & Monstrous and 2013’s Paraiso are both still favorites that I listen to constantly. I really liked 2015’s The Beacons of Somewhere Sometime, too, with its gracious tone, and I actually relate A Poetry of Rain most to that album, I think. The lineup for this new album is Markus Steffen on guitars, Arno Menses on vocals, Martijn Horsten on bass, Markus Maichel on keyboards, and Dirk Brand on drums.
Like I said, the band has their own sound. They play progressive rock that borders both on prog metal and also on AOR style pop rock. They lean in both directions while keeping a foundation of complex and progressing rock. This record has various other tones here and there, such as jazz and even country, but it all feels rather natural and well-conceived.
I’m a big fan of Markus’ guitar work, which is somehow both angular and melodic in phrasing. He is a master at the perfectly placed riff or the addictive little guitar lick. Arno, too, is an old favorite of mine; his vocals sound like no one else, and he sounds as good as ever here. I’ll say, too, that the rest of the band really brings it on this release, particularly the rhythm section, which sounds dynamic and interesting.
Like I mentioned, this album reminds me most of their Beacons album. It has the same grace and soothing ambience, as well as that album’s penchant for strange time signatures and this rolling, spilling, spreading rhythmic feeling. Sometimes that makes it seem like Arno is singing right past the music, and it can feel out of sync at first until you listen to it a few times and realize how brilliant it actually is.
A Poetry of Rain has ten tracks, and my favorites are 3-9. The other tracks are good, too, though. I like the titular intro and how it spills into “The Art of Giving”, which has an excellent riff, a great chorus, and a countrified ending. I also like “A Room on the Edge of Forever”, an acoustic ballad that eases us into the album closing gently and elegantly.
But in between, some of these tracks are simply terrific. “Marigold” is a favorite for its effervescent atmosphere, ghostly melodies, and excellent guitars. The single, “Sliver”, is maybe one of my favorite songs of the year; I can’t get enough of its addictive guitars, meaty bass, and great vocal performance from Arno. “Impasse” is wonderful, too, with its nostalgic central melody that draws you in a bit closer.
I think the next four tracks are some of the best, though. “Embers Part II: Water Wings” is apparently a continuation of “Embers Part I: Your Secret is Safe With Me” from Touchstones. It has some of the same melodic vibe, and so I instantly loved it; I especially like how expressive Arno is on this one. “Melencolia One” has such a groovy thing going on, too, and I love to hear that personality from the band.
The next two are maybe my favorites after “Sliver”. “A Wound Is a Place to Let The Light In” is an emotional piece with great piano and possibly my favorite chorus overall. I love the lyrics, the feelings of hope and encouragement, and the bright keys. “The Last of its Kind” is a little more down and dirty; it features a nice and heavy riff which combines with the underlying rhythms really well. I love the sax that emerges in the second half, and the song just feels urgent and Arno delivers on that feeling, too.
Subsignal still have it after over 15 years in the scene, and this is one of their most creative albums yet. I like the balance between heavy and soft, darkness and light, sobriety and playfulness. It is perhaps the most definitive album they’ve ever made, especially for this phase of their career. I think fans will be pleased.
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The PROG Mind 