Its hard to believe that its been four years since prog metaller’s Headspace released their debut album I Am Anonymous (InsideOut), as its strength and freshness in a, at times, stagnant progressive metal scene is still so fresh, and yet it feels like an eternity since it came to life. Unfortunately, due to the ever busy schedules of their personnel, which include singer Damian Wilson fronting UK prog metal stalwarts Threshold and keyboardist Adam Wakeman’s live commitments with Black Sabbath, Headspace can’t afford to be full time project, and fans have had to wait a long time. But as they say, absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder, and expectations for a follow up have thankfully been more than matched.
More a heavy progressive rock band than tech-metal or similar, Headspace have branched out further on follow up All That You Fear Is Gone (InsideOut), proving deeper, more detailed and more emotionally resonant than its predecessor. Focused on the subject of outside influences trying to control and individual, lyrically this goes in to the likes of greed and life’s ill distractions, subjects steeped in a dark reality, but does so without sounding cliché or contrived and instead powerful and emotive. Of course when they are sung by one of the most adaptive and excellent vocalists in contemporary prog in Wilson, this really helps their case.
Musically this proves as diverse and unpredictable as ever, veering from monstrous hooks to clean acoustics and unexpected dynamic swings, and even bluegrass on the delicate ‘Polluted Alcohol’. The strong collective at play makes for a lot of virtuoso performances and show stealing moments from all, but rather than being a competition for space and attention, once again this is a towering collection from a collective set towards a single, collective goal. There may not be the endless time in the world for all of these guys to give Headspace the full time work it really deserves, but be thankful that any time that is given showcases them as one of the greatest units in modern day prog.
9.0/10
CHRIS TIPPELL
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