The Rochester, NY based Prog Rockers, Stavo, have released their full length follow up, to their debut EP, Everything In Between. Void Of Polarity XI:XI is fittingly, an 11 song concept album, that is surprisingly, quite relatable. The band considers themselves a fusion of Heavy Metal and Jazz influences, and cite acts such as NightWish, and Dream Theater as inspirations. All of the members are said to be well established and well tenured, and they bring a sort of musical sophistication to Stavo. The result is a fantastical, and at times, ethereal experience, that resists the urge to stray too far into mythical territory, as many of their contemporaries tend to.
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As aforementioned, Void Of Polarity tells the story of Indigo. A professional young woman who is experiencing a surge of desire to move on from the trappings of mundane life, but harbors doubt in regards to her odds. It’s a simple story, and it allows for a relatively effortless immersion into the lexicon the band has created. The songs unfold as chapters of sorts, in the progression of Indigo’s odyssey. Her self doubt is a key factor in the rising action of the tale.
“Running Out Of Time” is one of the standout tracks on Void Of Polarity. It is arranged in the most auspicious of ways, with a very patient build, interspersed with flashes of intensity. It ultimately leads to a thunderous climax, as drummer, John Rolland, steals the show with his furiously phenomenal tom work. Indigo panics, as she fears like so many of us, that she is in a race against time to reach all that she desires in this world. This is quite possibly the most signature track on Void Of Polarity, and easily, one of my personal favorites.
“Message From The Council,” Parts 1 and 2, respectively, serve as a kind of interlude between transitional sections. Both have a duration of less than 60 seconds, and err on the side of Avant Garde. Kuplan is able to show off her magnificent range, but the problem is that she also does this at other points on the record, in much more meaningful scenarios. Here, she walks the tightrope of being slightly pitchy, and the soundscapes underneath, don’t really do her any favors. “Message From The Council,” might be considered skippable by some listeners, in both instances.
“Disciplined Dreams,” opens Void Of Polarity, and is an instrumental affair. It seems like there’s a sort of unwritten rule to include an instrumental track on every Prog Rock album. The idea it seems, is that Indigo’s story, begins with a dream. The musicality is predictably strong, here, with the keys standing out in particular. The decision to open with this, might be a bit polarizing, bug ultimately it serves the overall saga of Indigo.
Void Of Polarity is a well thought out concept album, with technically proficient performances. It’s not a record to suit everyone’s tastes, but Stavo is aware of that, and they play to their strengths. As with most Prog Acts, the selling point is in the superior musicianship. Thanks to Kuplan, who brings influences such as Heart, to the dance, the record is not lacking in raw emotion. All in all, while polarizing in some senses of the word, there is no void in Stavo’s game on Void Of Polarity.
Jodi Marxbury