HEMINA

​This is wonderful!

Hemina is a band from Australia who create great progressive rock music in its heavy or metal vein, however, they really know how to contrast that power with constant atmospheric passages, which has led them to create a very particular and wonderful sound. Through the years they have released 5 studio albums, being this one their latest (2023), and as far as I know, the conclusion of a concept story which has in fact, covered all those albums.

'Romancing the Ether' is the name of this 35-minute album which could also be a one-song record, because it is, in fact the title of this long epic that is divided in 6 parts, chapters, passages, so with that it might be easier for us to notice the different moments of the story and also to feel and even relate them with our own experiences.

'Part I: Intention' is a one-minute introduction with a classical/symphonic sound made by keyboards. It leads to 'Part II: Strike Four', which starts with piano but all of a sudden strings and drums together create a powerful tune, in that heavy prog or metal prog vein, after that bombastic beginning, vocals enter for the first time and yeah, in a very emotional way, so we can assume the rest of the album and the story will bring emotional moments. We, as humans, are always competing, its part of our nature and also, of our impositions, so as a self it is normal questioning a lot of things while we grow up, or even while looking to the past. That feeling of searching for answers is present here and Hemina share it heartfeltly, of course, with wonderful musical compositions where we can find challenging rhythm changes, great nuances made by guitars (including some awesome solos) and keyboards, while bass and drums implement a powerful yet delicate base.

'Part III: Embraced by Clouds' is a beautiful track where female vocals appear in a delicate way as lead, then the protagonist's voice appears again and a new structure is being built-up, where emotional heavy prog prevail. The keyboards role is very important here, adding that diversity of nuances and textures a story like this need. I love the faster moments where guitar show-up his skills and how it dialogues with keyboards. There is a constant feeling of being in a rollercoaster, in a seesaw, some brief calm passages but overall, we can appreciate passages full of energy, intensity, emotions. Worth mentioning the harmony vocals episode they bring at minute 5 just before the song explodes once again. But wait, because at minute 6 a piano opens the gates for a beautiful and disarming passage where melancholy is present as the main ingredient. Heartfelt, emotive music is shared here, you can tell by those amazing vocals that will make you scream, even cry.

'Part IV: Dissolution' starts with a mid-eastern sound, interesting, knowing the band are from Australia, it is great to have this cultural richness. The song starts in a calm way, one can even close the eyes and feel relaxed, however, at 1:30 it drastically changes, fast electronic beats appear and then Hemina makes an exploration of sounds and musical genres, because one would not particularly say this is prog rock, but they put elements of other popular rhythms, tribal sounds, with the help of their own resources and expertise as composers and performers. Though I love the instrumental moments of the album, I loved the ones with vocals and mostly, those harmony vocals like in the end of this song.

The melancholy strikes back in 'Part V: Revelations', another great track where the protagonist realizes he is no longer a kid and now life is up to him, so better be careful with the decisions and everything that surrounds him. We can take the music and the story home and feel identified with some details, but I love how the band manages to represent life through music, so just like in our day by day, we are happy, sad, melancholic, angry, hopeful, etc. It is never a straight line, we have always walk through sinister ways full of potholes, but in the end when we reach our goals, we feel everything is worth it. Questioning ourselves is everything.

The album finishes with 'Part VI: Integration', a short one-minute ending which reminds me of the short 'Peace' tracks by King Crimson. Of course, this album had to finish with the protagonist accepting that life has a new passage and he has to embrace it.

Yeah, a great album indeed, congrats to Hemina for this amazing release!

1. Romancing the Ether: 'Part I. Intention' with strings and piano intro, melancholy ethereal opening lulling our ears before 'Part II. Strike Four' with a thunderous solo with a heavy metallic bass; expressive prog metal verse piano a cappella ballad, neo prog at the start, vocals on a Queen track; slow melody with psyche-metal incursions from incisive djent guitars; the neo jazzy break on shouted choirs and a varied instrumental variation, swing and psyche at once, intoxicating reminiscent of Dream Theater; final sloping piano arpeggio. 'Part III. Embraced by Clouds' new age ambiance, crystalline Howe guitar; Douglas and Jessica duet on a melo-symphonic tune amplified by Nathan on drums; keyboard with a cottony neo-prog break before the growl-djent rise marked with the Opethian imprint; break again on a choir in Queen; piano suite for an orchestral moment eyeing Boston enhanced with a fluid and airy guitar solo; final choirs and guitars djent singular for a modern new-prog.

'Part IV. Dissolution' brings an oriental psyche-divine vibe; the bass becomes electro with a hang and house to leave you in a trance; between Hawkwind and impressively beeping EDM; a heavy riff hangs on to the sound of the beginning, continuing to deliver these sounds banished from all progeny! Error or stroke of genius, fabulous as it is before the final gospel choir. 'Part V. Revelations' offers a melodic, marshmallow variation, punctuated by heavy solos and riffs; these vocal harmonies lull the ear while the bass hammers the space; a modern prog metal, syncopated, predictable but devilishly effective.'Part VI. Integration' concludes with a lonely song and a dark keyboard layer, to return to the current world.

Hemina is reminiscent of the master Dream Theater, of its neighbors Voyager; baroque notes like on Queen or Devin Townsend, a prog neo-metal sound that pushes the boundaries of prog to hover over different musical climates.(4.5)

'Haunting Me!' is from the debut Hemina album SYNTHETIC. It rips along with metal riffing elegance and darker multi tracked vocals, with lyrics such as; 'death is not the end', 'nothing left to see', and 'is this all I'll be.' The choppy riff leads to a twin lead solo, and an ethereal section with effects and vocal intonations.

'Otherworldly' is an earlier version that is heard on the second release NEBULAE that has  Hammond sounds and a raucous chorus; "through the wormhole and rise to another frame, frame of reference free of a world of blame." The song takes some twists and turns with sudden departures in volume and pace, quiet reflective moments concluding the conflict in the concept; "reach down inside and realise what you've lost, it's simple to find if you've even got a heart." A galloping riff is heard over a fast keyboard phrase. Some very powerful vocals follow, and it breaks into a classical piano passage, then the grinding metal riffs return, fracturing time signatures, over ethereal keyboards. The sheer force of musical virtuosity is astonishing. Explore Hemina if you love prog metal.

We Will is a single from "Night Echoes" that captures the conceptual framework of the album. It is ten years following the tragic suicide of the protagonist's father, and he is finding it difficult to cope with the past, lapsing into a manic depressive state, and a loss of identity. On the borderlands of a breakdown, the adolescent struggles with self esteem and the closure he desires and need to break away from this prison of guilt seems further and further out of reach. These are heavy dark themes but the hope for redemption or reconciliation is always there, but will it be too late for the protagonist or will they find an escape from this crisis?

We Will explores the protagonists journey with a spacey synthwave sound that is joined by a crunching riff and aggressive vocals. There are some death metal growls on this to enhance the aggression, sounding like Devin Townsend. The guitars are choppy, riffing and galloping, and the rhythm breaks and jolts. It is a definite highlight on the album, and We Will has some intense time sig changes and a superb melody that kicks it along. A great single from a wonderful Aussie prog band.

"Romancing the Ether" is a slice of prog to feast on.

Hemina's new release  "Romancing the Ether" is a prog fest of heavy melodic metal with huge dollops of lead guitar shredding and complex rhythmic signatures that keep the ear energized. The album captures the heavier sound of Hemina and is replete with ambient atmospheres and ethereal melancholy passages. The concept concludes the same storyline  that was developed on previous releases "Synthetic" 2011, "Nebulae" 2014,"Venus" 2016, and "Night Echoes" (2019), and now " Romancing the Ether" (2023) that specifically focusses on the protagonist child's inner feelings as they struggle with belonging and dissolution brought about by fractured relationships and broken dreams. The concept unpacks the life struggles of the child who has experienced major trauma, and explores spiritual themes with psychological overtones. The 35- minute title track is a multi-movement suite segregated into 6 parts that transition seamlessly with an emotional impact.

Part I. Intention (0:00) Part II. Strike Four (0:55) Part III. Embraced by Clouds (11:45) Part IV. Dissolution (21:47) Part V. Revelations (26:01) Part VI. Integration (33:34)

The Australian quartet consist of Douglas Skene, Vocals, Guitars and Keyboards; Mitch Coull, Guitars and Vocals; Jessica Martin, Bass and Vocals; and Nathan McMahon, Drums, Percussion and Vocals. For the first time this album features over 100 part choral vocal arrangements and live orchestral strings and 8-string guitars.

'Intention' opens with eerie violins and piano, till a primal scream, chunky riffs and a soaring lead break crashes through igniting the maelstrom. 'Strike Four' is a cacophony of strings, drums and guitars that convey intense passion and are empowered by lyrics that have an emotional drive. 'Embraced by Clouds' is a delightful soundscape to feast on. The journey takes on an otherworldly atmosphere on 'Dissolution' when it delves into dark psytrance territory with extreme technobeats and synth-soaked psychedelic space rock.

'Revelations' is the major single from the album, a wonderful example of the complex rhythm switches and endearing harmonies. Jessica balances the vocals of Douglas so profoundly that it encompasses genuine listening pleasure. It concludes with 'Integration' and I  love how there is a light and dark balance of tone and the release of lead guitar power is consistent. The drums are superbly played complemented by a pulsing bass sound. The synth pads are beautiful counterbalancing the distorted crunching riffs. Other tracks are single versions of the epic suite that only differ slightly without the transitions.

This latest release is excellent prog to wrap your ears around. It is also available as a psychedelic visual experience that augments the journey by TAS visuals. It is great to discover that the complex story of the troubled adolescent has a concise ending, and the music of Hemina is consistently outstanding. This is another Hemina album well worth your attention.

I've been following Hemina for quite some time now, back when they released their first ep As We Know It. They showed promise as an original sound in prog metal back then, and now 5 albums deep they are still surprising me. After the concise Night Echoes album which I still really loved for its emotive vocals and lush chords, we are presented with one giant 35 minute slab of prog. The music dances through orchestral strings, to shredding guitar and tender vocals. All the ingredients are here that Hemina usually deliver on but the production and arrangements are firing on all cylinders. I don't seem to get many promos coming my way these days but every few years or so a Hemina album ends up in my inbox and it's usually a great day.

There are a couple of jarring moments like the techno sounds that appear 25 ish minutes in but I adjusted to them and I can see what the band were trying to do.

Standout part was the 3rd movement "Embraced by Clouds", that really goes in a million different directions which is exciting and fresh. The middle choral section reminded me of Eric Whitacre with lots of clashing notes that are dissonant yet pleasing.

Australian prog rockers Hemina have released in 2019 their fourth album "Night Echoes" and it is a welcome return to the heavier sound of their back catalogue. Previous releases are "Synthetic" 2011, "Nebulae" 2014, and "Venus" 2016, all of which are excellent examples of Heavy Prog at its finest. The Australian quartet consist of Douglas Skene, Vocals, Guitars and Keyboards; Mitch Coull, Guitars and Vocals; Jessica Martin, Bass and Vocals; and Nathan McMahon, Drums, Percussion and Vocals. Their influences are as diverse as the music, but you can expect sounds along the vein of Pain of Salvation, and Haken. Hemina have toured with an incredible array of prog giants such as Uriah Heep, Kamelot, Apocalyptica, Queensryche, and will be opening for Haken. They have shared the stage with Australian legends Caligula's Horse, Breaking Orbit and Divine Ascension, among others.

Hemina prefer to let their music tell the story but they present a conceptual framework and all their albums bring forth a narrative that grabs the listener and seems to unfold on subsequent listens like an existential adventure. The main protagonists differ with each album and are nameless, perhaps due to the fact that they may represent us as we delve into the soundscape, and we can relate to certain aspects of the characters in some way. The characters undertake some personal trauma and we come along with them on the journey from darkness to light. From isolation to inner conflict, the characters are prisoners and victims of abuse, but they are given a mode of escape with the hope of a new accepting family. The Female protagonist on "Nebulae" and "Venus" is indeed the wife of the central character from "Synthetic", so there is a definite connection to all the albums. "Night Echoes" continues to echo these themes. It is ten years following the tragic suicide of the protagonist's father, and he is finding it difficult to cope with the past, lapsing into a manic depressive state, and a loss of identity. On the borderlands of a breakdown, the adolescent struggles with self esteem and the closure he desires and need to break away from this prison of guilt seems further and further out of reach. These are heavy dark themes but the hope for redemption or reconciliation is always there, but will it be too late for the protagonist or will they find an escape from this crisis?

Out of the gates, The Only Way introduces a melodic metal guitar and some mesmirising vocals with clean harmonies that sweep us along at the beginning of the journey. This is followed by a fractured riff on What's The Catch? "Are you waiting?" is the question asked. A blistering lead break augments the atmosphere and soars into a high register till it cuts out suddenly. We Will follows with a spacey synthwave sound till it is joined by a crunching riff and aggressive vocals. There are some death metal growls on this too to enhance the aggression, sounding like Devin Townsend. The guitars are choppy and the rhythm breaks and jolts. A definite highlight on the album, We Will has some intense time sig changes and a superb melody that kicks it along.

One Short is a genuine oddity, with a blues flavour intro, until it unleashes into a metal guitar riff. I really like the vocals as you can hear the words and it helps to grab hold of the conceptual story; "Most folks I know like to try before they buy, its just a fact of life." Guitarist Mitch Coull states, "The standout tracks... are ones such as The Only Way, which blends that 90's rock sound within the progressions and One Short with that pure soul emphasis. One might say it's a departure from the sounds of "Venus" but, at the very essence of it all, the grooving metal is still there."

Flat opens with sparse acoustic vibrations and a soft soulful vocal. This is a gentle breeze after the more intense blasts of metal. Percussion joins with bass and synth washes to generate a calming atmosphere. It finally unloads into heavier distorted guitars and fast double kick drums, with screeching vocals and a scorching lead break. For me this is another highlight on the album, featuring some powerhouse vocals and a complex rhythmic structure.

Everything Unsaid is an acoustic piece with strong harmonies, short and to the point. Nostalgia soon follows, with atmospheric keys and then a catchy riff; the vocals here remind me of the Dream Theater style. The protagonist reminisces about the good times in the past; "I have been guilty of living in the past" to the simpler times. But will that be enough to get him out of the present situation? It is unlikely but the hope remains. There are some great drum flourishes before a lead break takes over, then some bass soloing; a genuine instrumental workout by Hemina in full flight.

In Technicolour opens with a creepy music box and what sounds like a vinyl record playing in its end groove. A strong metal guitar riff smashes through and some 80s retro synth lines. Then it locks into a broken rhythm and a lead guitar intro. The contemplative vocals are again clean and speak of the break in the father and son connection, and the need for closure "If I could only just say goodbye". The outro is beautiful harmonies over acoustics, "In a world full of colour, a boy without a father." Another outstanding track from Hemina is the result.

Flicker closes the album with a melodic metal sound, and a syncopated rhythm that switches time signatures throughout, perhaps one of the more complex songs on offer. It is always nice to hear Jessica's vocals too as she adds so much depth to the harmonies. More great lead breaks from Skene are woven into the tapestry, and it changes mood from urgent to emotionally spent, echoing the mood swings of the protagonist who is trying to come to terms with his identity crisis. The vocals are incredible, with hurt cries of mercy and soulful pleadings that bring the album to an end.

"Night Echoes" is another solid release from Hemina and the songs grow on you with each listen. The musicianship is excellent and there are some outstanding tracks aforementioned. There are no lengthy suites this time around and the album is less intricate or complex in structure, and it a shorter album than their lengthy opus, "Venus". Perhaps that makes this album more accessible for the average rock fan which may not be a bad thing, depending on how you like your prog served up. However I longed for more of the instrumental workouts and progressive wizardry of masterful "Venus" and "Nebulae". This album comes recommended for those who enjoy melodic prog metal, and for those who love to delve headlong into concept albums. I look forward to further albums from this great Australian Prog metal band, Hemina.

Another record from my favourite Australian group. I am always on the promo list which makes me excited as a little surprise every 2 years or so. This album cuts out some of the long prog epics which I am a bit sad about but it is replaced by an album with 3 distinct movements of upbeat prog metal with a pop touch, some brooding and emotional acoustic laced music and a 3 song prog challenge to end the album. Despite it being not such a "prog" album, it holds up with Venus very well if you want a different flavour.

Kinda like Voyager meets Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Best track: In Technicolor

9/10: Originally written for theprogmind.com

I have been following Hemina since their 2012 debut "Synthetic", and what a ride it has been! I honestly have a hard time believing it has been that long. The band is back with a stylish new album entitled "Night Echoes", and, even considering the quality of all their releases, this album is definitely going to be the one that I return to the most. The album releases on August 9th.

Hemina hails from Australia, and they are part of the lively prog scene down under. The line up includes Douglas Skene on vocals, guitars, and keyboards; Mitch Coull on guitars and vocals; Jessica Martin on bass and vocals; and Nathan McMahon on drums, percussion, and vocals. You will notice that all four members are credited with vocals, and we will explore that later.

The music here is progressive metal, though there are plenty of curve balls, too. Hemina has always offered a highly cinematic, highly melodic progressive metal with lush vocal harmonies. Some of their albums feel like films, complete with climaxes and loads of depth. This album continues that tradition, but feels even more influenced by pop, funk, soul, blues, and even electronic music. While the cover might make it seem like Hemina has gone 70s/80s on us, I would argue that they have already been there since the beginning, at least in the vocal melodies, but I would also point out that the 80s tropes you might expect are not present. This album is far more creative and masterfully crafted than to resort to clichés.

"Night Echoes", then, has plenty of riffs for the metalheads, and they are deep and dark riffs, too. But the album has so much more to offer than that. It is also catchy, quirky, and beautiful. It focuses less on mind-bending time signatures this time, and more on rich composition. You can hear the abundance of the melodies hanging in the air around you while you listen. The band often pairs these towering melodies with shadowy vox and dark riffs to fantastic effect, too.

Douglas proves once again that he is one of my favorite vocalists. His vocals are rich no matter the tone, and his high range is absolutely insane! However, like with their other albums but also somehow more noticeably here, the rest of the band sings and produces harmonies that really make this album what it is. Whether it is crowd singing, funk harmonies, or balladic duets, this album is made even more poetic and sophisticated by the interplay between the band's voices.

"Night Echoes" addresses the story of a boy who is living through his adolescent years after the suicidal death of his father. You can hear the pain, the memories, and the longing throughout the album, and I think the title is fitting. It is also their shortest album, to my knowledge, clocking in at about 44 minutes in length. I believe that is a good thing and makes this album even stronger.

There are many songs that deserve mention here. Some just have a fantastic chorus and are simply fun to hear. "The Only Way" and "We Will" are both great examples of that, as well as of the wonderful melodies the band is offering this time. Other songs have a distinct funk vibe to them, as Hemina has done somewhat in the past. "One Short" and "Nostalgia" fall into that category, and I love hearing them.

My favorites, though, are "Flat", "In Technicolour", and "Flicker". "Flat" starts as a gorgeous ballad that feels incredibly lush and melodic, and it transitions with some wonderful vocal fireworks into soulful solos and atmospheric synth. "In Technicolour" has a giant sound with myriad tones, fantastic atmosphere, and a bit of an 80s power ballad feeling to it. "Flicker" ends the album superbly. We get to hear a high-energy song that ends with Douglas' irresistible vocal musings that are both haunting and striking.

Overall, Hemina really went out on a limb with this one, and it pays off well. I absolutely love the melodies, the approachability, and the genius pairing of various textures and tones. Hemina has simultaneously become more accessible and also more complex and eclectic. It seems like the band is gelling more and more as time passes, and so I only expect even greater things from them in the future.

"Hemina" is a progressive metal band from Australia formed in 2008 by Douglas Skene. As of August of 2009, the have released 4 full length albums and a few EPs. In August of 2019, their fourth album "Night Echoes" was released. Skene (vocals, guitar, keyboards) remains with the band from the first album along with Mitch Coull (guitar and vocals) and Jessica Martin (bass, vocals). Joining them is Natahn McMahon on drums, percussion and vocals). There are several guests supplying "gang vocals" and a few other guests including past member Phill Eltakchi doing vocals for one of the tracks. The album is a concept album involving a story of a young man dealing with the death of his father while trying to get through adolescence. There are 9 tracks and the album has a total run time of over 45 minutes.

"The Only Way" (5:27) paves the way for the album with the complex, heavy, and guitar laden sound that you expect from a progressive metal band, the tempo upbeat and a nice complexity that isn't overbearing. The use of the "gang" vocals is a good addition as it really adds to the story well. The vocals are very good and emotional, with a section where they come near to screaming, but don't quite reach that point. "What's the Catch?" (3:24) continues this same sound, but is less complex and more straightforward, but the upbeat, heavy sound continues, while "We Will" (4:04) brings back more complexity and also adds a nice layer of synths. The vocals continue to be emotional and some shouting is involved in the heavier sections of the track.

"One Short" (3:02) features the vocals of past member Phill Eltakchi on the only track he is featured on in this album. This track has a poppier feel to it, but the layers of vocals are nice and I find that gang chorus that appears in several of the tracks a nice addition that really helps the story move along and really ties the tracks together. "Flat" (5:39) begins by taking out all of the heavy noise and simply using soft acoustic guitar, atmospheric percussion (mostly cymbal rolls, etc.) and softer vocals. A two minutes, the ballad style continues, but the full band comes in with added heaviness of guitars. The vocals reach an emotional high before the instrumental break adds in a nice guitar solo, then more of the gang chorus comes in before the music pulls back again to the softer sound. "Everything Unsaid" (1:39) features a guest vocalist adding harmony to the regular vocalist with accompanying acoustic guitar. It's a nice intermediary track.

"Nostalgia" (5:57) brings back some complexity to the melody, but stays away from full bore heaviness with the guitars content to just add riff driven back ground to the lyric heavy track. When it does reach an instrumental break, things stay pretty safe as a short guitar solo soon brings back the vocals. "In Technicolour" (9:33) starts with a soft keyboard passage which is soon interrupted with some heavier guitars and some nice development eventually bringing in the vocals. Jessica's vocals are quite apparent in certain sections as her vocals stand out in the chorus sections on this track, and that along with the gang vocal section adds some more depth to the album. "Flicker" (6:07) brings back some of the energy in the vocals and a bit more heaviness, but still seems somewhat lightweight for a metal sound. Jessica's vocals also stand out on this track at certain points and the track is a bit more progressive, but it lacks that "umph factor" that you would hope for in a ending track, and it kind of leaves you hanging.

The album has a certain amount of depth that helps to retain one's interest through the album, and the vocals are also well done, and that keeps the album moving along. Whether this interest carries through after repeated listenings is the question. While the album is definitely well written and contains some great music, it isn't highly progressive, though there are some progressive traits to it, only time will tell if it can continue to hold interest over a year or two of repeated plays. Both Prog and Metal lovers might end up wishing for a little bit of both aspects, yet those aspects are there. As for this album, it probably leans more in the Heavy Prog or Crossover Prog genres. Still, the biggest question is whether it has the staying power for most people. For now, it seems to fall around 3.5 stars, but can be rounded up to 4 because of the great production and the depth brought on by the gang vocal sections.