| Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Enochian Theory | ||||
| Released | September 27, 2010 | |||
| Recorded |
July - October 2008
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| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 48:59 | |||
| Label | Mascot Records | |||
| Producer | David Castillo at Ghostward, Sweden | |||
| Enochian Theory chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Classic Rock Magazine - | (Favourable)[1] |
| Terrorizer (magazine) | [2] |
| Metal Hammer Magazine UK | [3] |
| Metal Hammer Magazine Germany | [4] |
| Metal Hammer Magazine Poland | [5] |
| Powerplay magazine | [6] |
| Zero Tolerance Magazine | [7] |
| Big Cheese (magazine) | [8] |
| Rock Hard Germany | [9] |
| Rock Hard Greece | [10] |
| Rock Hard Italy | [11] |
Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio is the first full length album by Enochian Theory and was released initially via their own independent label on August 3, 2009. The album received its worldwide major label release via Mascot records on September 27, 2010.
Contents |
Due to outside issues and influences the band needed to write and record a new album in a very short space of time. As a result vocalist/songwriter Ben Harris-Hayes began writing new in January 2008 and would continue to write through March, until the band was sure they had enough material to proceed.
To accommodate the short time frame, the songwriting process differed from that of their previous releases, with the vocalist composing all the music and main structures. Using specific music software packages and MIDI sequencing and samples to recreate a full band performance, Ben could see how sections flowed and how they would sound with a full band playing the songs.
The band would then work on these songs together, when they practiced three times a week at their 'Pyres Of Mithrandire' studio and rehearsal space. Once they were sure that the songs would work as a three piece band, Ben then started working with 'The Lost Orchestra' to compose and perform the albums orchestral pieces.
With thirteen tracks written and ready to take in to the studio, pre production for the new recording began at the beginning of July.
The drums were recorded at The Old Blacksmiths Studio in Portsmouth with the band again working with Emmy nominated engineer Rich Tamblyn, who had co-produced the bands A Monument to the Death of an Idea release. The guitars, bass and vocals were recorded with Josh Eaves and Ross Gill at Rossgill Studios in the city and the orchestral arrangements and recording, completed at Ben's home 'Etherial Tantrum' studio. Recording of the album was completed on October 12, 2008.
The finished recording was then mixed and mastered in Sweden by David Castillo, who had co-produced the Katatonia record 'The Great Cold Distance' on the Peaceville label as well as mixing the Opeth record ‘Watershed’ on the Roadrunner records label.
It was mixed in Castillo’s recently completed new state of the art recording facility ‘Ghostward’ and had the honor of being the first project worked on there. The artwork for the album was conceived and realized by Swedish artist Robin Portnoff, who had been introduced to the band by David Castillo.
In May 2009, the band placed three of the new tracks on their website and myspace page. Fans were able to hear complete versions of 'Apathia', 'Movement' and 'Waves of Ascension'.
Although the album was not due to be released until August 2009, pre release copies started to make waves in the industry with the organisers of the ProgPower Europe festival booking them to appear at the 2009 event. Blabbermouth.net quoted festival organisers who said "probably hardly anyone has ever heard of this band, but that will definitely change when they will release their new album in August 2009.” and also “ENOCHIAN THEORY definitely will surprise many of you."
Distribution for the bands independently released CD and downloads were once again handled by CODE 7/Plastic Head Distribution with the band keen to build on the working relationship that began with their 'A Monument To The Death Of An Idea' and 'Namyamka' releases.
In the build up to its independent release, tracks from the new album have received rotation on Kerrang radio and Bruce Dickinson's BBC 6 Music rock show.
The album was released through the bands own independent Anomalousz Music Records label on 3 August 2009 and press coverage followed with wide press coverage in music publications across Europe including the English, German and Polish editions of Metal Hammer, Classic Rock Magazine, Terrorizer (magazine), Zero Tolerance Magazine, Rock Sound, the German and Greek editions of Rock Hard, Powerplay rock and metal magazine, Big Cheese (magazine), Spanish magazine 'This Is Rock', Italian magazine 'Metal Maniac, Norwegian magazine 'Helvete', Finnish magazine 'Inferno' and Romanian rock and metal magazine 'Maximum Rock'.
The album has also been reviewed on nearly 100 websites and webzines across Europe with extermely positive results. Some of the review quotes for the cd included
"Outstanding... Awesome...and Brilliant"
"One of the most interesting progressive rock releases of the year..."
"Enochian Theory have created a mammoth of an album. Filled with monumental landscapes, soaring melodies and a strangely hypnotic quality, this is truly an album that you can get lost in."
"One of the best debut albums I've ever heard..."
"Massive, beautiful, dimmed, moody, provocative and touching..."
"Very interesting music.... The music has a perfect contrast between slow cold like ice melodies, spontaneous like fits of anger and incredible walls of massive metal sound...It’s a unique masterpiece of metal music..."
"Enochian Theory is the next big thing in the sky of progressive music...Very bold, fascinating chunks of art, real art...Innovative in the literal sense, dramatic, chaotic, harmonic and moving. 11 out of 10 points given to describe how much I love this album..."
On April 29, 2010, the band released a press release via the musical press and their official website saying they had signed a deal with Mascot records. As part of this deal the album was rereleased worldwide through the label on September 27th of that year.
Towards the end of 2010, the band began shooting a completely animated video for their song 'A Fire Around The Lotus' which will be released online.[12].
All music written by Enochian Theory, lyrics by Harris-Hayes
Total running time 48:59