{"id":11035,"date":"2022-11-16T10:59:41","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T10:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.progradar.org\/?p=11035"},"modified":"2026-08-21T16:03:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T15:03:03","slug":"review-avandra-prodigal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progradar.co.uk\/index.php\/2022\/11\/16\/review-avandra-prodigal\/","title":{"rendered":"Review – Avandra – Prodigal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Progressive-metal stars AVANDRA<\/strong> return with their new album, ‘Prodigal<\/em>‘. With a passion for non-standard time signatures, electronics and technical elements, the band have produced a concept album that explores the meaning of ‘home’ and the freedom to attain your own destiny. ‘Prodigal’ <\/em>follows the protagonist through a difficult journey of loss and betrayal; from joining the military only to discover they were responsible for the bombing and destruction of his home, to returning and rebuilding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A towering behemoth of thunderous guitars, violent drumming and monolithic bass playing all backed by the wonderful and melodic soaring vocals, ‘Prodigal’ <\/em>is quite a <\/em>powerful statement. An elegant journey into the intensity that progressive-metal can create, highlights abound throughout this impressive collection. There’s the clever, restrained feel in opener Codename: Pharoah<\/em><\/strong> that continues with the excellent The Downpour<\/em><\/strong> with its every so memorable and haunting chorus. Occasional harsh vocals along with soaring cleans produce a dynamic contrast that really lingers in the memory throughout the album. The rueful, sombre and wistful notes of New Beginnings<\/em><\/strong> and the dignified piano and atmospheric synths of In Tr?umen<\/em><\/strong> showcase a softer, more reflective side to the band which is highlighted fully with the exceptional Facing an Armoured Dreadnaught.<\/em><\/strong> In Memoriam<\/em><\/strong> is just a fast paced destroyer of polished progressive metal and the superbly chaotic and dissonant Dissembling the Artifice<\/em><\/strong> will literally blow your mind with its fevered intensity. All of this energy and dynamism comes to a frenetic close with Daybreak<\/em><\/strong>, a dramatic conclusion to the events that have gone before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AVANDRA<\/strong> have created a thrilling and compelling take on the progressive-metal genre and one that is delivered with not a little expertise and finesse. ‘Prodigal’<\/em> is one of those intricate and influential albums that takes some understanding at first but when you peel back the final layer of this epic behemoth, it is a wonder to behold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Released 18th November, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy from Layered Reality here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avandra \u2013 Prodigal (Pre-order) (layered-reality.com)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n