Conception - Flow

Phenomenal Songwriting

I'm sure many Conception fans gave this album one spin and screamed, "They sold out!" Leading up to this release, Conception had been a _heavy_ metal band with some progressive qualities and an outstanding vocalist. So it may have shocked from longtime fans to hear Flow's opening track, "Gethsemane" (which means "a place of suffering"). Instead of the typical fast, fierce & crunchy opener, Flow begins subtle. A mid-tempo riff, ethereal synthesizers, quiet verses, and a soaring chorus.

On the whole, Flow is less heavy than its predecessors, but at the same time the Ostby/Khan writing core has improved tenfold over previous albums. Although many refer to them as a "prog-metal" band, they don't really have many of those qualities. However, the diversity from song to song has increased a great deal, which keeps the album markedly fresh: the industrial inflections of "Reach Out"; the Soundgarden-like "Tell Me When I'm Gone"; the emotional and slow-building power ballad "Cry."

Flow seems less about being metal and just writing great songs. There's no doubt that it is metal, but this isn't the threatening, aggressive sort of music the band was formerly known for. Ostby's outstanding solos are short, sweet and melodic. "Cardinal Sin," its heavy main riff a trumpet-like blare, sports a hook-laden chorus and rapid-fire percussion. A song like this would actually be popular on the radio, I think. The gorgeous ballad "Hold On" is quiet, just violin, harpsichord (I think), and Khan's incredible voice. And what a voice! Definitely one of the best singers in metal, his unique low timbre, Norwegien accent, and phrasing made him possibly the most distinctive part of Conception's sound. (Conception is no more, but Khan has recently joined the melodic power metal outfit Kamelot, improving that band by a ridiculous level thanks to his songwriting skills and voice.)

It's sad that talent like this goes unrecognized. Conception broke up after recording Flow, and the bandmembers left to pursue different avenues to demonstrate their ability. As I mentioned, Khan joined with Kamelot, and Tore Ostby has formed a new band called Ark. Both are excellent, but I do miss Conception. This is one of the most perfect albums I've heard, where production and songwriting unite for absolute greatness.