Flight Among the Tombs

The fact that a band like Theandric with an EP like ‘Flight Among the Tombs’ can exist in 2022 is a source of both hope and exasperation. Hope (and confusion) that there are still far flung corners of the world – Detroit no less – where this cocktail of prog rock, heavy metal, and high fantasy stylings still gains significant traction in spite of what everyone from stuffy critics and cynical fans (and the general ambient misery of our times) may say to the contrary. Yet exasperation that, despite the rich and intricate musicality on display here, the style refuses to budge an inch beyond the 1980s.

Theandric subvert the most obnoxious aspects of power metal by looking to older 70s influences in the pronounced prog flavour that seeps through these four tracks. This in turn supplements the gradualist melodrama of the Candlemass school with intricate guitar and keyboard work and some surprisingly bouncy folk flourishes. This allows Theandric to bypass the paradox of heavy/power metal, in that in literal musical terms it should be the most accessible style of metal. The riffs are catchy, the vocals clean, it shares many traits with popularist heavy rock. Yet it remains notoriously abrasive, divisive, and at times oddly impenetrable.

With that in mind it makes for an extra treat that ‘Flight Among the Tombs’ manages to transcend this baggage, replete as it is with intricately unfolding melodies that cannot fail to engage, odd meandering bridges that manage to take the listener on a journey via musical story telling, and plenty of space for virtuosity that avoids alienating the listener in any undue masturbation. Seen in this light, pop hooks sit quite happily alongside densely packed prog segments and a measured dose of power metal’s penchant for fanfare.

That being said, the guitars reign supreme in this regard, taking us on a whistle stop tour of metal riffing since about 1975, supplemented by some tasteful folk revival influences to broaden the sonic offering. But keyboards also play a key role in delivering the ‘Flight Among the Tombs’ baby, with intricate organ lines opening the EP and making frequent appearances throughout, serving as a backdrop to the call and response guitar leads.

Theandric lack the darkness of Cirith Ungol, the shameless intensity of Candlemass, the glamourous swagger of Queensrÿche, or the speed and exhilaration of Iron Maiden. What they do have is a shit load of riffs, an ear for melodic development, and a seemingly bottomless well of creative space in which to work. For this reason I’d wager that this EP could reach an audience far beyond the usual crowd of dedicated traditional heavy metal fans. There are so many pockets of intrigue hidden within ‘Flight Among the Tombs’ and so many familiar touchstones presented in new ways that it’s almost infectious. I’m still not sure whether to be encouraged or fall into despair at the sheer naivety required to release such a compellingly innocent EP in 2022, but I can’t seem to tear my ears away, which is certainly an encouraging sign.

Originally published at Hate Meditations