There are times in our lives where we are privy to certain things that need to be kept hush hush until the time is just right-  maybe it was that special Christmas gift your parents got for a sibling that you knew about and was told to keep secret; or maybe a surprise party you had planned for a significant other; or possibly sharing some very important news about an incredible life changing event.  We’ve all been there; you get that feeling inside that you (and only you; possibly a few others) have just witnessed or heard something utterly fascinating and you begin to wonder…  just how in the hell am I NOT going to want to share this?  The time I caught the band’s debut performance of “Eternally Present” well over three years ago was one of those moments-  this, my friends, was a game changer.

Shortly before Christmas in 2014 the band debuted “Eternally Present” to a crowd of their fans at the 86 Club in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Their debut release, Circadian Rhythms, had been out for a while and the boys had been working up material after the addition of a second guitarist to the mix, so I was definitely eager to hear something new.  As “band Dad” (my son Ian is their bassist) I tried to make every show to provide support and help as needed, but  also I enjoyed (and still enjoy) catching their gigs because I really do love their music and they are an excellent band.  However, I was not quite emotionally prepared for the utter brilliance of the debut performance of their new song- listening to that version as I write this still brings chills to my spine and a tear to my eye due to the passion in their performance and the incredible atmospherics and overall growth as songwriters.  I remember leaving the gig that night with a huge smile on my face and eager to share this proud papa moment but knowing that I needed to keep it secret for the near term.

After listening to various mixes of this song, catching multiple live performances, and hearing the final mix hundreds of times, I am still blown away on each and every play.  “Eternally Present” is a roller coaster ride of emotions, depth, intensity, and dynamics that gets better each time you listen to it; an incredible journey from the dark to the light and back again featuring a dizzying array of sonic textures and forceful blasts of color- one dim gray, hazy path suddenly opens up into warm hints of sunshine and then turns on a dime into twilight time and then quickly spins you around into a kaleidoscope of other hues, all within a span of five minutes.  Like a good book or movie you are swept up in the moment and carried away, segueing through highs and lows before being brought safely home, emotionally wrung out from the journey but all the better for it.

Musically and performance wise, the band has never been better.  The fire and ice tag team of Michael Bishop and new boy Waylon Baker play off each other incredibly well; Michael’s blazing fretwork countered by the cooler inflections from Waylon provides the titanic structure and sonic elements-  everything from the apreggiated intro to the powerful crunch of riff to the single note melodic runs and eventually through the ethereal, atmospheric tapping section deserves high praise.  Drummer Daniel “DJ” Reinhart is a virtual drum tornado as he uses every bit of his kit:  thunderous of foot and quick of the wrist, his playing is equally dynamic as he pushes and pulls the beat ever so slightly with lighter single stroke snare patterns or freight train triplet force.  His rhythm section partner in crime, bassist Ian Remley (that’s my boy!), adds a third layer to the main riff for more auditory punch, mimicking the main riff with a deeper well of sound and even tossing in a brief, Chris Squire inspired solo spot during the moving middle section of the cut.  And finally vocalist Jake Antony’s emotionally charged performance is the icing on the cake-  aggressive and commanding at one moment then yearning and passionate at others, you can feel him giving it his all as he places you front and center for this aural odyssey.  As I am somewhat familiar to the genesis of the lyric for this song (and I know it means a lot to the band), there are certain vocal elements and lines here that cut through the soul:  Michael’s backing shout and Jake’s echo of “we can live forever” followed by Jake’s commanding “LIVE…  FOR… EVER”; the haunting, almost pained howls and angelic voices deep in the mix before Jake’s wounded roars in the atmospheric middle section; and finally the life affirming “I believe in life, I believe…  I believe in love, I believe” at the close.  Incredibly, incredibly moving.

Biased much?  Hell no… as a parent I couldn’t be prouder but as a music fan this is an incredible piece of work that should easily stand alongside some of the greats in the progressive metal field today.  It is THAT good.  For those of you not familiar with music of a heavier genre it may be a bit of a shock at first, but stick with it because you are in for the ride of a lifetime.  Then play it again…  and again…  and again…  and don’t forget to download it too-  soon you’ll be hyped and ready for the release of The Earth Laid Bare’s new album Flow, coming in November.

To Ian, Jake, DJ, Michael, and Waylon…  love you guys and I am VERY PROUD of “Eternally Present”.  I’m finally glad I can tell the world about what a fantastic piece of music this is and what you’ve got in store for the future.  Bravo fellas…  bravo 🙂