A little over a year ago I came across a band from down under, led by a member of progressive Metal band Anubis. This band goes by the name of Hemina. The Free dictionary says the meaning of Hemina is half a sextary or ten fluid ounces. I don’t know about that. What I do know is that last year saw their debut with As we know it, an Ep with 5 tracks, three of the tracks we now find on their first full length debut album which goes by the name Synthetic.
With their Ep gaining grandeur reviews stating Hemina as an up and coming band, my expectations were rather high when I received the album. I work a little ahead if I say I was not in the least disappointed by the Hemina crew. Synthetic has become a stunning album from the first note until the last note rings away in the air.
From the opener “The Hour of Ours”, slowly starting the album off, setting the mood of what is yet to come with the rest. It must be said that the album is best listened to if downloaded without pauses between the songs as all of them are linked together, and to avoid sudden stops no breaks please!
Having said that track one goes into track two, floating into one another very smoothly. With “To Conceive a Plan”, mastermind behind Hemina Dougie Skene leaves no doubt, Hemina mean business. In doing that they have made a plan that is about to be conceived. In a musical sense it can be compared to the music of Dream Theater, complex but yet easy to grasp the tunes, with a lot of stunning guitar work and keyboards. Very good melody lines making the song stick in your mind when it has finished. It is quite refreshing to hear a band from down under play like this. After the band conceive the plan they find “The boy is Dead”, how awful that must be. A song full of the characteristics of prog rock, changes in tempo, strange twists. Stunning guitar solos… what else is there to want. Doug Skene is the guitarist and singer in the band, he has a distinct voice. It can’t be missed.
Next up are the three songs that have appeared on the EP from 2010. These are already known to a wider public, but if you don’t know Hemina, this is brilliant. The song blend in nicely or should I say the album has evolved quite nicely around these songs. I guess which ever you prever.
Followed up by “Hunting is for Women”, now I always thought it was for men, how mistaken I was. It a nice uptempo groovy song in the veins of the best prog around. Absolute smashing stuff, and this one is follwed by the bombastic & orchestral “Even in Heaven”. A song that will grab audiences when doing it live I am sure. One thing I missed on the album, No real chorusses, or sing along songs. Still this is a typical Arena wide song. The short intermezzo “To cunduit To the sky” is very welcome after all the banging and fast playing. A moment to relax, before we go to the last tracks “Haunting Me” and “Divine”. As two of a perfect pair to form the last 15 minutes.
All in all one can state: Douglas Skene is a great guitarist and singer, the rest of the band are Mitch Coull, guitar and vocals, Jessica Martin bass and vocals, Andrew Craig Drums and Percussion and last but not least Phill Eltachi keyboards. Together from down under they are Hemina.
01. This Hour of Ours 2:12
02. To Conceive a Plan 11:27
03. The Boy is Dead 9:07
04. For All Wrong Reasons 4:55
05. And Now to Find a Friend 11:20
06. With What I See 6:38
07. Hunting is for Women 6:44
08. Even in Heaven 7:05
09. Conduit to the Sky 2:50
10. Haunting Me! 3:58
11. Divine 13:28
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