Overall album analysis
"57 minutes of high technique and musical quality.
your ears deserve it."
The Great Nothing, an album released in 2023 by the band Magna Zero, will take you on a musical journey of approximately 57 minutes that will transcend the common and known rhythms of the rock world. The 11 tracks of the record have unique characteristics, presenting a near-perfect blend between technical musical development and the evocation of powerful auditory emotions for attentive ears.
The variations are significant, whether within the songs themselves or between them, proving that Magna Zero is capable of offering an impressive range of rhythms, promoting sensations that recall a mix of important sub-genres of prog rock, such as metal, symphonic, eclectic, heavy, and crossover. It's also worth noting that during my listening session, I had the privilege of absorbing the entirety of The Great Nothing uninterrupted - an experience I highly recommend you also undertake.
Prepare yourself, you are about to offer your ears incredible sound timbres, with a fair presence of all instruments in perfect balance of their tonalities. The Great Nothing was a very good experience, well worth it across all its tracks.
All Must Go
"When the first song captivates the listener"
We stand before the opening track of the album, The Great Nothing, which embarks on its inaugural auditory journey by crafting a dense atmosphere characterized by a masterful amalgamation of instrumental textures, fostering a high-quality listening experience that elicits a panoply of sensations.
All Must Go begins with an unwavering sense of evolution, seamlessly introducing instruments and vocals in a perennial fashion. Each addition enriches the soundscape with unique timbres and novel experiences, captivating the listener's attention throughout. Bolstered by an exceptional recording quality, discerning listeners can appreciate each individual instrument, rendered with crystalline clarity and deft craftsmanship.
The album's first track commences the auditory expedition in an unparalleled manner, featuring enthralling refrains and emotions that manifest vividly, especially in the final third of the piece. Here, all rhythmic elements coalesce into an intense climax, accentuated by prominent solos that contribute to an extraordinary crescendo and instill a sense of curiosity regarding the remaining ten tracks of the album.
With a robust conclusion marked by dynamic beats and rhythmic shifts, All Must Go accomplishes one of the most arduous tasks in the world of music: triumphantly opening the record and captivating the listener's attention for the subsequent tracks.
Endure
"A dense, impeccable atmosphere with great surprises"
Isolated drum beats and a prominent bass line set the stage for the second track of the album, Endure, as it begins its auditory invasion. With the vocals creating a denser atmosphere, the gradual introduction of new instruments unfolds, progressively enhancing the listening experience, which is punctuated by intense bursts in various segments, even in the first half of the song.
The overall rhythm of the track springs a pleasant surprise at the 1:52 mark, presenting a rhythm break that astonishes even the most attentive ears. From this point on, the rhythm gains momentum, and the amalgamation of effects, paired with an emotive, refined vocal, reaches its zenith.
Following this dramatic tempo shift, Endure masterfully returns to its original foundation, while retaining key instrumental elements generated throughout its duration, thus preserving its identity while propelling its harmony to new heights.
In a fitting finale, the unique blend of all instruments is elevated, enriching the atmosphere and effectively connecting all the previously explored passages. Endure concludes the second song of the album with conviction, presence, and substantial musical heft.
The Singularity
"A break worthy of strong rhythmic emotions"
We now have a brief respite from the pace set forth by the first two tracks of the album. The third track, titled The Singularity, offers an elegant, calm, and serene introduction, featuring a beautiful, muted solo reminiscent of Pink Floyd's finest moments. The introduction alone was a tremendous delight for my ears.
The entrance of the vocals brought about more exquisite auditory sensations, maintaining the initial atmosphere and evoking a sense of elevation during the listening experience. Up to this point, around the 2:00 mark, the track maintains a pleasant rhythm and a fantastic interplay between instruments and vocals.
The break from the chorus introduces a moment of ecstasy, showcasing soaring timbres and a clever bridge that seamlessly ushers in the musical continuity.
At this juncture, the primary rhythm proposed earlier returns, allowing the listener to fully appreciate The Singularity. It's worth noting the impeccable recording quality, not just of this track, but specifically the emphasis on the bass, which is clear and present, providing the necessary foundation for the lower frequencies.
As one might expect, and quite intelligently so, the track introduces subtle changes from the 4-minute mark onward, holding the listener's attention while incorporating rhythmic breaks and a pervading atmosphere. The remarkable evolution of the keyboards and the harmonious interplay between the other instruments culminate in instrumental rhythms that are truly deserving of a song of this magnitude.
It's important to highlight that The Singularity does not feature dramatic rhythmic changes; however, even with a runtime exceeding six minutes, the band skillfully crafted a piece that elevated my emotions to the highest auditory levels, captivating me from the very first second through to the final moment.
Under The Dirt
"Get ready for a fast, intense, and innovative experience"
Swiftness and a shadowy, muffled, and mysterious effect emanate from the guitar in the opening seconds of Under The Dirt. The fourth track of the album opts for a dense and rigorous atmosphere, with low tones dominating the soundscape and generating a palpable sense of anticipation for the entrance of the vocals.
As anticipated, the track masterfully incorporates the atmospheric prowess into the vocals, which, interspersed with brief pauses, convey intensity and powerful effects between the instruments and the voice, justifying the song's intent. In this manner, Under The Dirt audibly evokes sensations that transcend the provocation to alter the style of the songs with expertise.
As expected, the rhythmic sequence evolves intelligently, giving rise to an eclectic guitar solo that begins at the 2:14 mark, seemingly distant at first but gradually emerging to complement the melodic tones during its latter half. This showcases a perfect demonstration of the band's instrumental capability, embodying not just technical prowess but a wealth of emotions.
The song is fast, intense, and ideal, culminating in a flawless, heavy, and impactful finale. Under The Dirt fulfills its role, innovating the logical sequencing of the album and surprising listeners.
Oblivion
"Graves and accentuated effects, elegance and weight"
An effect of denser, grittier guitar, accentuated bass, and a heavy atmosphere launches Oblivion, the fifth track of the album.
The rhythm is slower, calm, marking a predetermined tempo in the initial minutes. However, there are intriguing alterations in rhythm where the verse and the chorus demonstrate innovation and acuity. The high-quality moments where the guitar enters clean and the vocals guide the rhythm are significantly influential, lowering the overall amplitude of the song and promoting a more subtle environment. This ambiance gradually grows until the 2:42 mark, where a wonderful guitar solo enters.
Keeping the band's overall characteristics and the solos, it manages not to take all the attention but rather elevates the band as a whole. It provides a pleasant solo base that persists in very interesting riffs when the vocals return. This mix of music with eclectic elements gives the band's personality a unique edge, as the musical construction differs from the common sense.
Oblivion heads into its final minute with the same weight and participation from all instruments. Yet, in this final stretch, it's the drums that decide to innovate and display good fills and subtle rhythm breaks until the final seconds. The song concludes as another track full of unique characteristics, along with innovation and a lot of technical quality.
Step Into The Light
"An elegant, calm moment that deserves a lot of attention"
A calm, gentle, and elegant guitar solo sets the tone for the first few seconds of the much-anticipated Step Into Light, the sixth track on the album that offers a respite from the strong beats and abrupt rhythm changes. We are presented with a melodious, beautiful song that soothes not only the ears but also the listener's soul.
The overall foundation of the song is low-key, creating a beautiful atmosphere of distance, reminiscent of eras from the past millennium, until the right moment to offer auditory surprises at the 1:42 mark. At this juncture, we encounter an epic, sentimental, and extremely intense evolution that heightens the emotion of appreciating a beautiful song.
Step Into Light is not merely a track that decides to soothe the listener midway through the album, but a piece that directly exemplifies a band's ability to offer decisive moments and rhythms, particularly for lovers of the genre.
Like the natural movement of ocean waves, the rhythm reverts to its origin in the final third of the song, reinstating the overall rhythm that initiated the song, with subtle eclectic tones of rhythm change and a final evolution that abruptly interrupts the track. Thus concludes another song that deserves its spotlight within this complex and intricate album.
Eat You Up
"A dense, eclectic environment with pleasant musical surprises"
Eat You Up, the seventh track of the album, introduces a denser and heavier moment for the listeners, initiating with a unique sonic effect followed by the triumphant entry of the guitar and drums, which are swiftly joined by vocals complementing the melody.
The lower frequencies here are well represented and valued, underscored by a guitar that elects an eclectic path of musical construction, offering brief solos that accompany the song, most noticeably in the choruses. Intriguingly, the song's atmosphere is crafted in such a way that it muffles the midrange and treble, adding significant personality and producing a delightful surprise element at its peaks.
An interesting rhythmic break transpires at the 2:22 mark, where progressive elements bridge the path to the song's climax, which merges seamlessly into the subsequent chorus. In this way, Eat You Up manages to craft a musical structure characteristic of hard rock, with occasional heavy and eclectic prog elements enhancing the overall composition.
The conclusion of this track brings us full circle to its inception, with an abrupt pause in the intense rhythm and the promotion of a sonically intriguing ending, imbued with a sense of suspense and darkness.
A potent and dense song, it is pleasing to the ears that appreciate bass-heavy tracks and provides substantial heft for listeners who favor the darker and more powerful aspects of music.
Behind The Sun
"Behind the sun, but in front of your ears - flawless"
Behind The Sun", the eighth track of this record, commences by establishing an extremely obscure and suspense-filled atmosphere. In the early seconds, a riveting guitar solo stakes its claim over the musical foundation, swiftly supplanted by vocals, which ascend to the fore with impeccable intonation. Gradually, "Behind The Sun" fortifies its instrumental tapestry with subtle drumbeats, adeptly sustaining the listener's attention throughout this inaugural journey until the 1:45-minute mark.
The rhythm subsequently quickens, although it never abandons the overarching intent of the song, proffering rich timbres and an intense, triumphant instrumental moment. The middle section of the track escalates the listener's emotional engagement in an unusual manner. There's no specific protagonist; rather, the entire band works harmoniously, propelling the style to sensational auditory levels.
Just as the song's outset tendered a poignant and dense moment, the instrumental segment skilfully assumes command without emerging as the primary protagonist. Toward the end, it unveils flawless high notes that transport the auditory experience to euphoric heights.
In its final moments, "Behind The Sun" facilitates a return to tranquillity, affording a respite for the ears and concluding this track with a unique, intriguing, and well-structured musical arrangement. This deceptively complex piece rewards the listener with an intricate interplay of light and shadow, melody and rhythm, showcasing the band's ability to craft music that is as challenging as it is satisfying.
We Are All
"Deep tones and pleasant surprises from the bass"
We Are All, the ninth track of the album, leaves an indelible mark from the very first seconds, establishing its standout place with a triumphant introduction. A clean and eloquent guitar solo sets the tone, but it's the exuberant and technical presence of the bass that steals the show. This introduction seduces us with its refined and skillfully executed musicality.
In an interesting game of push and pull, the vocals are simultaneously distant and present, intricately weaving in conjunction with the eclectic base of the guitar. The result is a track with an emphasis on the bass and unique effects, particularly in the choruses and most intense moments of the song. It's worth noting the bass's consistent contribution, which, despite being a typically background instrument, manages to take the spotlight thanks to the excellent quality of the recording.
Throughout the song, we witness minor breaks in rhythm and a deeply emotive vocal performance, delivered in a pervasive and intense manner, elevating the auditory standard. This overflowing emotionality culminates in a return to the initial rhythm, marked by a clear and transparent guitar solo which, however, is short-lived as we quickly return to the faster pace. This transition marks a clear and continuous evolution of the musical scales, culminating in the triumphant conclusion of the song.
"We Are All" embodies an eclectic tone in the album, with a strong presence of bass and intriguing variations in the instrumental construction, particularly in the guitar and bass. The song maintains a surprise element, pleasing the ears from start to finish, marking a true auditory pleasure for the listener.
Dark Matter
"Quite dark, quite eclectic"
An unmistakably and extremely dark track, laden with weighty undertones and a densely atmospheric mood, subtly laced with a beautiful melodic, higher-pitched effect. That's how Dark Matter, our penultimate musical art piece from this incredible album, begins.
Presenting an integrated connection, the vocals absorb the gloomy atmosphere, laden with effects and carrying the initial auditory experience of the song through its introduction and evolution. The intention here is quite clear: to elevate auditory levels and musical artistry to unseen levels before, introducing eclectic tones to the uninitiated while offering a wealth of technical and melodic wisdom to those whose ears are already trained in the world of music.
The rhythm of Dark Matter is more perennial, with few evolutions, maintaining attention until the 2:19 mark, when the guitar decides to take the stage with a strong solo/base, capturing the spotlight and slightly altering the overall previous atmosphere of the song, yet without losing the initially projected identity. This instrumental moment is triumphant and blends with the return of the vocals also at elevated levels. It was during this high point of the song that I found the guitar solo and vocals predominated, perfectly fitting into the final moments.
Dark Matter brought a big surprise being the penultimate song on the CD and hit the target more than once in promoting big surprises in its creation. It left an air of "now we are ready to finish the album with the next song".
Walking To Nowhere
"The closure everyone awaits - triumphant"
The longest and final track of the album, Walking to Nowhere, titillates the ears with an extended introduction that gains strength and musical elements with every passing second, beginning with a solitary guitar solo, gentle bass touches, and a distant drumbeat marking time. It is within this environment that the final component - the vocals - make their entrance, seamlessly integrating with the initial musical foundation.
The bassline carries a captivating rhythm throughout, while the guitar delivers vibrant and effect-laden timbres, up until the point when the drums fully join in to reveal the true rhythmic intention of the song. The instruments execute numerous creative shifts, breaking away from simplistic musical structures and clearly showcasing the band's high level of musical prowess.
One can take a sonic journey through significant rhythm changes in this song - something I personally love - as I was repeatedly caught off guard with what the ensuing seconds would bring. The acceleration at the 3:42 mark is particularly intriguing, as it heralds the arrival of a solid guitar solo, which also remains humble enough to provide space for the exquisite bass riffs that complement it. Indeed, I would highlight this instrumental passage as one of the most pleasurable listening experiences, considering its multitude of musical elements.
The song makes a resounding return with crisp drum fills interspersed throughout, injecting intensity into the final minutes and setting up another brief instrumental moment before the vocals re-emerge, shifting genre, shifting style, and yet again, taking me by surprise. It's fascinating how the song's atmosphere evoked in me a sensation of closure, as though an intense effect had completely enveloped my auditory senses, leading me towards the closing seconds of the song.
Walking To Nowhere accomplishes a delicate mission - being the longest track on the album sparks a strong curiosity before playing it, and it manages to leave listeners with a sense of farewell, a feeling that appreciating this artistic endeavor titled The Great Nothing was worth every single second.
