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CYHRA “Requiem For A Pipe Dream”
CYHRA “Requiem For A Pipe Dream”
By Iron Sheik
Getting “Requiem For A Pipe Dream” by CYHRA to review I was expecting a different style of music than what came out of the speakers when I sent the album from my email in my new(ish) phone to my thirty year old Kenwood rack system and pushed play. It is a pleasant surprise in that it is excellent music, and it is as melodic as it is heavy at the same time. There is a nice bottom end along with the guitar, vocals and well placed keyboards. Electronics oddly enough add to the music as well, not being a detraction. Behind the Requiem are Jake E (ex-AMARANTHE) on vocals, Jesper Stromblad (ex-IIN FLAMES, ex-HAMMERFALL, ex-SINERGY, and THE HALO EFFECT) on rhythm guitar, Alex Landenburg (ex-KAMELOT, ex-ANNIHILATOR, LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY) on drums, Eugene Valovirta (ex-SHINING) on lead guitar and Marcus Sunesson (ENGEL) on third guitar, and on bass is Mr ASUS (too many to list! Haha)? Confirmation of electronics after all!
“Superman” (re-recorded) is the most distinct fist pumper, and my favorite. It is a catchy song with a sing-a-long chorus. I had heard it in our local rock station when I had those rare moments of tuning into the radio. “Miss Me When I'm Gone” is another catchy track and the keyboards in the mid section have a BLONDIE feel to them. A weird comparison I know. This album is geared for radio play being the band is heavy with a very polished sound. By mid album we have “Skin From Bones” (re-recorded). "You are not the monster in my bed" run the lyrics, which sounds more like self-reflection, and has a rather heavy guitar solo.
On the backside of the album we get “Ghost”( I'm Meant To Be. Darkness), a confession, solace, and with a heartbeat it cracks like a dirty record (a cool throwback). Another look into oneself, it continues the lamentations. From this point to the end it is very similar territory. “Mark Of My Sins” (re-recorded) follows with being "haunted by a ghost." Scars, pain, sins and lamenting over what is. Another tale of "not letting the darkness take my soul." Bonus track and closer “Hold Your Fire” is the odd song out, it is not fitting with the album's themes, yet that does not mean it is any less potent.
With the self-reflection of behaviours, the whole of the album could be more like “The Torture of a Pipe Dream”. CYHRA has penned a very melodic and heavy album of internal struggle for Requiem For A Pipe Dream. The Requiem? A lament of what was that never materialized. There is a longing felt in every song, and that plays well with the title of the album. I can relate to such personal strife as sung about because of the way things have been for me. I was most always able to express myself like Jake E does throughout the album just very tinged with anger. “Requiem” is very much a relatable record, and is heavy metal in equal melodic parts. A very deep bottom end, excellent guitar work from the triad, and excellent clean vocals throughout make for a winning formula although there are a few places I could do without like the rap section in “Skin From Bones” (re-recorded) or the screamo type vocals in the bonus track “Hold Your Fire”. As a whole this album sounds familiar, but not a copy of anyone. Familiar, melodic, and heavy, this album has given my old Kenwood a nice workout which allowed me to listen in proper fashion, and it let me hear the depth of the music. I would suggest throwing out pre-conceived notions based on the cover artwork and the melodic descriptor. If you listen deeply, you might relate like I did.
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