Skyharbor Shine On ‘Guiding Lights’

Skyharbor. Photo: Press image

[easyreview cat1title = “Guiding Lights” cat1rating = 3.5 cat1detail = “Basick”]

‘Guiding Lights’ artwork

Despite living in four different cities across the world, prog metal band Skyharbor have never slowed down for a minute. But when they started work on Guiding Lights, their first album together ”“ most songs off their 2012 debut Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos were originally written by guitarist and producer Keshav Dhar ”“ they set themselves apart from anyone in the modern prog metal scene.

Dhar and co. go beyond screaming vocals, complex drumming and blazing riffs to quiet down for the most part on Guiding Lights. They start off fast on “Allure” [with a little help from prog metal band Periphery’s guitarist Mark Holcomb] and step into the familiar djent space with “Evolution” and “Idle Minds,” although there is a sense of patience already evident in the band’s song structures ”“ a majority of the 10-track album features songs that are longer than five minutes, including the title track “Guiding Lights” and closer “The Constant.”

With the addition of guitarist Devesh Dayal and bassist Krishna Jhaveri [both from alt metal band Goddess Gagged], you can just hear a few mellower parts and arrangements on tracks like “Halogen” and “Miracle” reminding you about Goddess Gagged. Skyharbor are probably taking a cue from Australian prog rock band Karnivool in laying full emphasis on songwriting and layering, which is why Guiding Lights takes more than just a couple of listens to get you hooked. Even if you’re a fan of heavy djent breakdowns, you’ll appreciate the quiet “Patience” for its heart-tugging string quartet-backed alt rock vibe. Vocalist Dan Tompkins is a powerhouse throughout, but explores a lot of soulful, pop-leaning harmonies, which blend surprisingly well with both soothing synth sections and all-out drum bashing from Anup Sastry.

Guiding Lights sets Skyharbor apart from their modern prog metal peers such as Monuments, Uneven Structure and Intervals. Skyharbor proves, just like Karnivool did with their 2013 album Asymmetry, that you can reach for a mind-boggling level of prog music without the gimmicks.

Key tracks: “Evolution,” “Patience,” “Idle Minds”

Skyharbor Guiding Lights India Tour 2014:

November 22nd – Laxmi Lawns, Pune [Bacardi NH7 Weekender]

November 23rd – Shilpgram, Guwahati [Fireball VI]

November 27th – Hard Rock Cafe, Hyderabad

November 28th – CounterCulture, Bengaluru w/Inner Sanctum, Cheisrah

November 29th – Buddh International Circuit, Delhi NCR [Bacardi NH7 Weekender]

Listen to Guiding Lights here