It might be a little odd to say this, but sometimes albums surprise me. Orion has said rather publicly that one probably needs to be a Rush fan to like his music, and seeing how I’m not really a Rush fan, I wasn’t sure how The Lightbringers would land with me. However, I’m finding myself really liking this record for numerous reasons. It releases on August 16th.
Orion hails from the UK. This is the project of multi-instrumentalist Ben Jones. Yes, he plays all the instruments on the album. His slogan is “Telling the story of finding awareness”, which I think is a vital piece for understanding this record.
The music here is progressive rock, pure and simple. It has plenty of roaring bass, which I believe is a major highlight, and excellent, driving guitarwork that is truly ferocious at points. Ben’s voice takes a moment, but I soon warmed to it, and then began to sense the emotional nuances and heart within his performance. The music overall has a sense of light and wonder to it, and maybe a hint of sadness and mystery.
And this is a vulnerable album. It is lyrically concerned with weary hearts, I think. The opening track “The Tumult of My Heart” was inspired by my book of the same name, and thus addresses the heavy yoke that religion places on our hearts. Other tracks address topics like caring for loved ones who are deeply ill (something I also know about), social media toxicity, and broken hearts. But you know what I love so much about this album? After four tracks of profoundly human experiences and sorrows, Ben gives us a four-track suite called “The Cycle of Light” that is so uplifting and encouraging and validating.
Maybe that is why I find myself liking the second half best. The first half is undeniably good. “The Tumult of My Heart” has a great chorus and love the driving bass line. “The Ghosts Among Us” is heartbreaking, but somehow also very catchy. “This Sickness” has a fantastically sinister guitar line that really sells the song, and as it progresses, it returns again and again with greater power. That track really rocks. “As Best We Can” is a ballad to close the first half, and I find it both sad and confident, and I like the hovering atmosphere it has.
The second half brings “The Cycle of Light” suite, and it is absolutely stunning. “Spark” starts it off with an instrumental gunshot; this piece is extremely addictive and rocks really, really hard. I love it. “The Scattering Stars” exudes a warm aura; I think the keys combined with the voluptuous bass make it feel that way. “The Falling Heavens” has a bit of style and blues in its veins, and I like how strong and fiery it feels. The final track is the best on the album. This title track is an absolute joy for how it filters in shades of light and melody like a hovering backdrop. I love the progressively more passionate vocals, which gives the illusion that the song becomes more and more confident and determined. The closing minutes are tremendously beautiful and almost celestial, with hints of choir vocals and orchestrations that radiate cinema and the coming of the light. It is easily one of my favorite songs this year.
So, I guess you don’t have to be a Rush fan to enjoy Orion’s work. This album is wonderfully constructed, passionately performed, and overwhelmingly encouraging. I find that I absorb the lyrics more on some listens, and then absorb the terrific instrumentation more on other listens. It has multiple sides to it that end up creating a convincing and amazing album.
______________
Find Orion online:
______________
______________
The PROG Mind 