What a phenomenally pleasant discovery this album was. Me mate Rob called me up in a state of gushing delirium telling me I MUST buy it. But who are Casablanca, what’s it all about? I asked. Never mind that, said Rob. It’s hard to describe but it’s right up your street and you’ll love it. No fear. So what else could I do but hit the buy button an Amazon.
And man, am I pleased I did. Me mate Rob’s not often wrong. He put me on to Miskatonic Graffiti with a double bulls-eye the likes of which hasn’t been hit since Robin Hood (allegedly) split the arrow already in the bull with that of his own.
A quick look around whilst waiting for the CD arrived revealed that Casablanca is a Swedish outfit with two prior albums featuring ex-Alice Cooper man Ryan Roxie – but he’s not on this one which probably explains why the cover says “by the remnants of Casablanca.” And that Miskatonic Graffiti is based around the writings of an old sci-fi writer H.P. Lovecraft.
So as I’m a sucker for a good sci-fi concept album………Anyhoo, CD arrived, in to the slot it went and I waited to be blown away after the big build up. First couple of spins it didn’t sink in. Then BAM……! WOW! I was duly blown away.
I see why me mate Rob thought it hard to describe. It is. But in a good way. Undoubtedly a monster rock album with many elements and an overall ethereal/trippy/spacey feel. It’s heavy, progressive, NWOBHM, melodic, inventive all at once. Musically and lyrically very clever and an absolute joy.
I can hear bits of Savatage, Blue Oyster Cult (Imaginos), Uriah Heep, early Heart, Rush, Dream Theatre, White Spirit. This is something else. Epically brilliant.
The standouts (in an album of standouts) are the opening and closing tracks. Enter the Mountains and Exit the Mountains. Two swirling slabs of progressive spacy metal as good as you will hear anywhere. In between them are eight more cuts of excellence making up an overall listening time of around 53 minutes.
Enter the Mountains runs at ten of those minutes. A plodding slow burner to start with before the explosion slams in. A driving central riff which hits hard featuring some explosive guitar work as the song twists and turns going this way and that. Remarkable.
Closer has a huge hook. Not unlike an at their 1970s peak Uriah Heep with the chord structure, swirling organ and the keyboard/guitar interplay.
The spacey trippiness continues of which a fine example is My Shadow out of Time. Rather than try to describe it using my limited vocabulary, here’s the lyric video.
The crown jewel on top of the glittering pile is Exit the Mountains and in particular the second act – Armies of the Night. Hits hard with the frantic riff and huge shout along middle section.
Casablanca has created something special here. Last weekend I went to see me mate Rob and his wife. It’s about an hours’ drive each way. I had Miskatonic Graffiti playing constantly both ways. Indeed, the detour on the way home due to a motorway junction closure was most welcome as it meant I could squeeze in another listen. It is a special album. Make no mistake.
I’ve gushed on long enough…………………check it out for yourself.
>> LISTEN TO SAMPLES OF MISKATONIC GRAFFITI ON AMAZON <<
Please support us and buy us a coffee.
