Review | Blind Man’s Daughter – Dissent

Curtain Call Records / Sony Music Publishing

Mind gripping Ashley Wolfe reports back with the new Blind Man’s Daughter album `Dissent’. Picked up by Sony Music Publishing, the astounding multi-instrumentalist gradually warmed up the audience with a tantalizing collection of video singles, channelling Wolfe’s imperative lyrics and radiant emotions. Grounded deep in the emotive realm, she vocally conveys depth and texture at the center of the impressive progressive music discharged on the debut `Sundressed’ and explored in a variety of directions on the new album `Dissent’. Dare I call it another masterpiece? YES, I freakin’ do! 

DEEP SPIRITUAL TEXTURES

“Can it be true that mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes a genius?”, Arthur Conan Doyle’s quote implies that mediocrity, characterized by average abilities, tends to be limited in its understanding and perception of higher levels of achievement. Much to my feeling however the quote highlights that those with talent possess a heightened awareness and appreciation for exceptional abilities. 

Speaking of exceptional abilities, Ashley Wolfe immediately comes to mind. Since her accident about 5 years ago, she tapped into a creative realm cascading new music and ideas constantly. Her personal stride and artistic confidence thrive radiant, and the gateway opened not only channels her musical marksmanship as a creator, but it also transcends with deep spiritual textures feeding directly into your spirit to resonate indefinitely. 

`Dissent’ exemplifies the innate genius tapping into the vast sonic universe, channelling profound layers of human consciousness and esoteric progress. In all the new songs there’s a presence of Wolfe’s stride incorporated in the texture and lyrical content, traversing its components on all aural frequencies. 

JOURNEY TO RECOVERY

The new songs incorporate a sense of momentum within their texture and lyrics, exploring all auditory frequencies. In the opening track ,,One Life Down’’, droning bass and guitar interact with the poise of classic rock. The song, nearly deafening in its intensity, erupts like a grenade, with Ashley’s vocals echoing a sonic wail. Her elevated croon resonates with profound honesty. Overcoming tragedy, ,,You’’ stands as the most personal track, with Ashley addressing her journey to recovery and learning to walk again.

The song features tribal drums and an ethereal Middle Eastern-inspired melody at its core, creating an uplifting fusion of tormenting riffs and vocal harmonies. Ashley’s vocals explore subtle, glorious oozing registers, conveying her emotions directly to the listener. As the song progresses, her vocals gradually intensify, vividly portraying the imagery of footsteps. Modern themes emerge before her remarkable guitar solo, that showcases Wolfe’s exceptional fretboard skills, swirling around the central melody, augmenting sheer emotions and wizardry. The track gradually fades with a gentle vibration, with Wolfe’s vocals hushing with sultry tone before “Bleed My Name” bursts forth.

HEAVY METAL CREDENTIALS

This song features powerful riffs and jagged movements layered over poly-rhythmic drum patterns. The changing tempos and crunching riffs enhance its heavy metal credentials, with potent vocals leading to melodic peaks. The song, loud and heavy in its groove, incorporates modern metal’s finest elements and explodes with progressive hooks. Wolfe’s prolific vocal delivery echoes and wails skillfully, culminating in another stunning solo. Ashley then pitches higher, passionately wailing the title repetitively with intense emotion. It traverses its rich structured textural finesses heads first into ya.

Switching gears ,,Darkening Skies’’ leans heavily on the low growling bass lines while modern electronic elements and guitars gel into a piercing swirl. The low-end bass drone is earth-shaking low. Time-changes as progressive as possible, the song blends the innate appeal of Björk’s artistic signature tracks with glorious blasting heaviness. Wolfe pushes forward with insane vocals touching all sections of her range, with intense pitched vocals as she song speeds up towards its Grand finale. The breakdown is insanely heavy, switching elemental as it dies out.

KATE BUSH

The hard-hitting metal track ,,Lord of War’’ showcases impressive musical prowess with its combination of blunt heavy riffs and intricate grooves, creating a dynamic intersection of brisk majestic heaviness and ominous doom. The vocals are intensely dexterous and loaded with anger, as Wolfe leads with her powerful delivery. The relentless assault of drums and riffs is overwhelming, firing on all cylinders.

In contrast, ,,Ashen’’ offers a moment of respite mixing ethereal melodies and soothing sonic elements, complemented by Ashley’s, Kate Bush-like blissful soft head voice bordering neurotic. The harmonized guitars produce extended, weeping notes that abruptly transition into heavy jagged riffs. As mentioned, Wolfe’s vocal performance here is her most intense recorded, alternating between a gritty guttural roar and high-pitched, angelic soaring. The fusion of these vocal elements is phenomenal, evoking a deep emotional response in the listener. 

,,Turned to glass” is crafted around highly progressive time changes. The polyrhythmic drums at the helm underneath the alternating riff ‘n bass offload. Amidst this progressive turmoil, the song packs an urging stance, pressing like a marching beat, with the groove intensifying and guitars like a draped fog across. Classic rock is the sudden solo, incorporating Jimmy Page’s large string bends and Alex Lifeson’s legato sustained notes and (somewhat) chaotic runs. This fusion breaks glorious with the discharge of metal at the helm. As the drums unexpectedly speed up, the hooked intensity morphs Sabbath-esque. 

BLIND MAN’S DAUGHTER – A CROSSOVER OF STYLES

Grooved AOR is introduced on ,,Embryo”, creating a contradicting potion of heavy progressive metal and neo-prog melodies with a Morello-style guitar lick, yet extended, percolating into the mix. The crossover of styles is emphasized by Wolfe’s confident vocals that stand at the center. She echoes her dominant soaring mid and heavier register, empowering the song’s impact. It contradicts heavily with the anger packed vocals on ,,Broken”, matching the song’s content. Stride and fierce power are stacked on top of insanely heavy bass lines and intense drum patterns. “You’re Broken, “You’re Broken”, Wolfe calls out, raising fists. The song suddenly stops in its tracks as it introduces a Metallica reminiscent section of drum and guitars thrashing up the atmosphere. Subtlety cast aside for the laden content; it is another Blind Man’s Daughter projectile being detonated.

Alternating rhythms follow the brief cinematic opening, igniting ,,Paralyzed”. Another TNT-laden shell in which Wolfe grips back to her personal tragedy, with drums hammering like a bombardment hitting the frontline of a warzone, and Ashley displaying her vocal prowess. Scatting in rap timing midway, she injects similar bombardments of vocal discharge, before returning to the melodic soaring delivery of the track. Absolutely astonishing is the mayhemic breakdown of this progressive metal explosive.

PROGRESSIVE GRANDEUR

Ashley introduces another gem filled with melody, seamlessly incorporating Floydian guitars and Lifeson-like chord voicings over a droning bass line that alternates notes. The jazzy time signature of the drums complements the melodic tension of the solo as it emerges. The sonics of ,,Painting the Sky” are captivating, showcasing the creator’s keen ear and artistic mastery. The cinematic piece feels like a hybrid of Tony MacAlpine’s melodic perfection on `Maximum Volume’, and Vinnie Moore’s work on `Time Odyssey’, blending shredding magnificence with exquisite melodic elements. 

`Dissent’ is closed by the slow-moving pearl ,,Heaven” that has Wolfe at the vocalic center again. Modern keys and electronic elements are painting a vivid picture before the melodic perfection is pumped by its ground-breaking chorus. Not lacking the intensity of the progressive time changes the song could be marked ‘Rush on acid’ easily, channelling deep. The lamenting vocal lines are full frontal and captivating, beautiful, with the music contrasting on its progressive grandeur. It orbits with pitched guitars raining into Ashley’s wailing performance, marking the creative wonder of the song.

BLIND MAN’S DAUGHTER – THE CONCLUSION

`Dissent’ stands out as one of the most dazzling releases of the year, best characterized as melodic prog-porn. This album is a remarkable synergy of styles and deep emotions, delivered with distinct intensity that resonates directly with the listener. Each play of the disc unveils new layers, making it a captivating experience. Ashley Wolfe takes on all the creative responsibilities for the album, from composition and arrangements to the musical and vocal execution.

Blind Man’s Daughter represents a forward-thinking modern and enticing approach to classic and progressive rock, debunking Gene Simmons’ claim that “rock is dead.”

Resuscitating music, here’s `Dissent’!