Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz | Detailed or mini-review submissions: song, EP/album | Suggest an artist

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Theia Collides - Last Song (song review) |self-released, single, 2012|

Theia Collides is an American progressive rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As their bio says, their goal is to "create a lasting impact on the listener with every song, using conviction, high energy and improvisation". The track, "Last Song" shows this a true statement.

To begin with, Theia is the name of a hypothetical body the size of Mars, said to have hit the Earth approximately 4.5 billion years ago (about 30–50 million years after the Solar System began to form). The debris left over created the Moon. Science Fiction and Fantasy references are well known to progressive rock music. However, the best known characteristic is the tempo and time signature changes that feature frequently throughout compositions. This free-form method can be heard in "Last Song" although it's not an experimental track by any means. More so, it brings a classic rock vibe and melodies as well. The composition is multi-layered and the arrangement is rich in variety, but there's still space to breathe fresh air.

It should be noted that the rhythmic section that builds the core song structure cooperates very well. The leading bass line, performed by very skilled musician, Ben Chiarini sounds dense yet it remains mild and organic. This pulsing groove is accented in every part of the song. Drums by Eric Wiegand are balanced and weighed well ensuring they aren’t ahead of the other instruments in the mix. Their soft tone also adds a pacifying atmosphere to the track.
During the verses, Scott V’s guitar sounds delicate while accompanying the bass, drums and vocals. However, the riffs intensity grows within the chorus. You'll hear classic sounding solos as well.

The vocals are the only weak point in this song. They lack conviction. The vocalist and keyboardist, George Stevens sounds under confident with singing technique, especially when shifting between octaves. He does well singing in a tenor range, keeping it bright and interesting. Progressive rock singers quite regularly embrace this style. Unfortunately, he gets a bit out of tune during verses, which were written for a lower and stronger voice in a baritone range. It means that George may need a further vocal training to overcome possible vocal range difficulties.

In conclusion, "Last Song" sounds soothing but carries a rock spirit as well. If you're looking for a non-intrusive track that leaves the room with your imagination, then you should definitely listen to this. There's also a chance of seeing Theia Collides live, as they appear to perform quite frequently.
"Last Song" will be one of the 5 songs on a currently untitled EP, to be released in 2013. Apparently, however, it may not be the 'last' song on the tracklist.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Music Magazine, February 8th, 2013. Proofreading: SanDeE)

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