AN NCS PREMIERE: HORIZON ABLAZE — “SLEEP IS THE BROTHER OF DEATH”

 

(Andy Synn introduces our premiere of a song from the new album by Horizon Ablaze, which is set for release on February 17.)

 

When I was asked to select a song from the fantastic new Horizon Ablaze album, The Weight of a Thousand Suns (out Feb 17th), to premiere here at NCS, I really did have to think long and hard about it, as literally every single one of the record’s eight tracks is worthy of celebrating.

However, seeing as how the band chose to lead off with “Insidious” – the album’s proggy, moodily melodic final track – as the album’s first single/video, it only seemed to make sense (not to mention appeal to my love of poetic symmetry) to pick the album’s blistering opener as our gift to you all today.

 

 

In many ways “Sleep…” and “Insidious” are two opposite sides of the same coin, the yin to the other’s yang, both strikingly different, yet still complementary in so many ways.

Where “Insidious” demonstrated the album’s more progressive side, “Sleep…” is far more aggressive, its roiling riffs and feverish drums driven by an undercurrent of simmering rage which constantly threatens to boil over in an eruption of scalding ferocity.

By the same token, the sinister melodic embellishment and doomy cadence which the guitars frequently employ serve to add an entirely different aspect to the song’s already dark character, making it as devilishly catchy as it is devastatingly cathartic, and practically guaranteeing it will remain stuck in your head for a long, long time.

There’s a lot going on in this song, and in the album as a whole (which I still contend is the rightful heir to the Promethean throne), and I for one can’t wait for other people to start digging in and discovering the multitude of metallic marvels on offer throughout The Weight of a Thousand Suns.

For now though, I’m pleased to present the exclusive premiere of “Sleep is the Brother of Reason”.

 

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