Band:	Nospūn
Album:	Opus
Style:	Progressive metal
Release date:	May 19, 2023
Guest review by:	24emd

01. The House At The End
02. Implosion Overture
03. The Death Of Simpson
04. Dance With Me!
05. Tougher Love
06. Earwyrm
07. ...And Then There Was One
08. 4D Printing
09. Within The Realm Of Possibility
10. Back, Yet Forward
11. The House At The Beginning

Just like in The Matrix.

I set a personal challenge to write one more review before the year is up, so I relistened to most of the standout 2023 releases. As I could have expected, nothing managed to stand out like Nospūn’s Opus, even seven months later. So, who are Nospūn? Formed this year, they are a progressive metal band from the USA, comprised of four members; their bassist Cole Millward also serves as their sound engineer and Reddit-promoter. All the members of the band have not been recorded in any previous groups, and along with their formation date of 2023, this makes them quite literally the definition of a fresh band.

So how does this fresh band fare on their debut record? Opus opens with a brief prologue – a stage-setting acoustic piece that serves its purpose well. It is well composed and arranged, and piques interest for the album to come. The album’s overture follows next, a second introduction which is instrumental this time around. By the ending of this track, listeners may view this double intro as overkill (I would like to see what these people think of the ending), while others might be impressed. Both groups rightfully so, as this lengthy introduction is both superbly performed and written, as well as lasting for a reasonably long time before the album kicks off for real.

Any wavering interest is completely silenced after the overture concludes, as we are slapped in the face with “The Death Of Simpson”. It opens with a techy riff, before transitioning into a few themes that will be reiterated later. Though vocalist Phillip Rich made his first impression in the opening track, it’s here where he truly gets to blow our minds with his versatility. From his chilling lows, to powerful highs, Rich encompasses seemingly all styles of progressive metal singing, in a way only reminiscent of the one and only Devin Townsend. Every member of the band showcases their tight synchronization in this track, through unconventional meters, heavy syncopation, and math metal-esque fills. The performance is not the only part of this track that is top-notch; in fact, it tell its story in an incredible dynamic manner, truly hooking concept album enthusiasts who are eagerly listening in to the narrative. Right before the chorus, Rich whispers “chest...”, doing incredible wonders to the shocking nature of the story in this track. Opeth-like interludes come into play in the midsection of this track, with a few amazingly ethereal melodies.

Opus manages to cover a lot of ground in the remainder of its runtime, starting with the jubilant anthem “Dance With Me!” and followed by the ambient and dark “Tougher Love”. The album takes yet another left turn with the manic “Earwyrm”, which renders the chaotic riffage of many spheres of technical metal to a high quality. Rich’s vocal lines are incredibly soaring and raspy in the chorus of this track, and we are also graced with recurring and recontextualised melodies from the opening track. Concluding the album’s first act is the beautiful “...And Then There Was One”, showcasing impeccable pacing and lovely chorus melodies. The second instrumental, “4D Printing”, finishes its onslaught with none other than a chugging breakdown.

“Within The Realm Of Possibility” and “Back, Yet Forward” make up the album’s 25-minute climax. Here is the real test for Nospūn, as their abilities to thrive in lengthy and meaningful compositions will be tested. In short, I believe they succeed. But with further scrutiny, some instrumental passages may be viewed as overkill, a criticism that can also be levelled at the two instrumentals heard earlier. Though these semi-frequent passages may be to the distaste of many listeners, Nospūn’s ability to weave each theme together flawlessly saves the substance from reaching redundancy and absurdity.

Throughout Nospūn’s debut, instrumental chops are incredibly clear. Each member both syncs up within the incredible rhythm sections, and showcases their individual talent. Paul Woods’ drumming is groovy and varied, while James Nelson’s guitar solos are nothing short of extraordinary, mostly standing out with “In The Realm Of Possibility”. This skill matches the best of prog bands, and so does their incredible production, which allows for every element of their compositions to be heard without losing strength and punch. I’ve attempted to refrain from name dropping and describe Nospūn’s sound for what it is, because while the elements proposed in Opus are nothing new, the character both in Phillip Rich’s vocals, and the songweaving of the band give these tracks an identity of their own. The album's concept isn’t always clear through the lyrics, but talking to Nospūn’s bassist Cole Millward has provided a deeper understanding of the meaning of the events that occur.

Nospūn’s Opus is nothing short of extraordinary. Each aspect of the music is astonishingly strong, even down to the portrayal of well-established ideas in engaging ways. In December, I personally and with confidence can name this album of the year. Nospūn will be a band to follow, as their future and hints on Instagram about work on a new album look very bright.