SINGLE REVIEW: Appeal To Authority - The Fog Of War
A compelling account of the Ukrainian war through the eyes of a child, 'The Fog of War' is a captivating progressive metal track that respectfully and empathetically delivers a hard-hitting narrative. It expressively conveys the fear and uncertainty felt by a child seeing troops approaching and their life torn apart.
The experience of watching their father forced to leave, being left with nothing but prayers and hope to see him again, unfolds with fading morale and depleting hope. The track vividly depicts the struggle to keep cities safe, witnessing nothing but chaos and destruction, with women and children being killed. It's a brutal, honest account of the turmoil and heartbreak of war, shining a light on the harsh reality in Ukraine.
The instrumentation magnificently backs the unease in the words, powerfully delivering the track's message with swooping, progressive guitars that erupt into power surges, adding impact to the sound. It creates a hypnotic, absorbing atmosphere.
The vocals possess a wonderful, soulful tone, stunningly graceful. They deliver the words with both empathy and honesty, juxtaposing beautiful melodicism with raw grit to hammer home the track's message.
Appeal to Authority stands out as one of the best new progressive metal bands. They avoid overcomplicating their sound, and their well-thought-out, high-impact song structure doesn't rely on excessive technical complexity. Their exceptional song writing shines through in 'The Fog of War,' a poignant and powerful lyric not just about the hardships faced in Ukraine but also the trauma and hurt caused by any war.
