ARAPACIS - NUCLEUS OF CHAOS

ARAPACIS - NUCLEUS OF CHAOS

December 6, 2024, a day ago
(BONGO BEAT)

Larry Toering

Rating: 8.0

review hard rock arapacis



I have done my share of publicity on this band from Montreal, CA, but Nucleus Of Chaos takes all things a step beyond, with some seriously down and dirty stuff to reckon with. Killer guitar riffs and solos from Jerry Fielden, excellent keyboards, and a more varied vocal performance from the Scottish born Michelle Macpherson. These eight solid tracks are among the best in their catalog, which features guest heavyweight artists such as Don Airey and others.

This is my first AraPacis review with Gillan Macpherson-Briggs on keyboards, as it is his first album with the band on keys, but the last one I covered did feature Derek Sherinian, who returns for this opening track. But the point about Gillan Macpherson-Briggs, is that he is the 13-year-old son of the singer and guitarist in this family affair (named after Ian Gillan of Deep Purple). And what an effort he put into the songs, as well as Sherinian turning in some world class touches on the first (already released) single "Let It Love feat. Derek Sherinian." This song alone takes some of the cake before the rest is even served up.

Next up is "The Park," which is the second single, as the acoustic intro plays through (guitar and piano), but things quickly go in another direction with a sweet vocal refrain over a very proggy backing with keyboard progression and galloping guitars that eventually go through some keyboard complimented breaks. This song is blistering at every turn, as the guitars and keys spar throughout with some interesting percussion. Worth the price of admission alone.