There is a lot of times in music when a debut album doesn’t really represent the artist, or the band that releases it. it might sound like a compilation of material coming from different periods, that sound controversial, and when it would eventually put on the CD, or record it may give you the impression that you listen to different artists in every track. Hannibal’s first album was lacking of unity, and good compositions that would leave the CD on your stereo for a long time, at least that happened with me.
But, on “Cyberia” things have changed dramatically. First of all, it seems that there is a clear direction, and everything is going towards it during the full duration of the album. There is amazing sound textures, atmosphere, great production, great playing, balance, but most of all songs that you will remember after listening, which is something extremely important for any kind of music. Hannibal’s vocal presence is excellent, very stable and serves every track ideally. The album’s “strong cards” are My God”, “Let The Rain”, and “Rise” that are accompanied with pretty good dark, gothic-industrial songs that feature amazing guitar, and keyboard work that makes you listen to the album from start to finish, and go back to the start again!
Of course there are influences from several bands, and styles of music, but they don’t get to the point where you say “oh, I’ve heard this one before”, but let you go through them and get an idea of what made Hannibal sound like this. Plus, the artwork from “Pablo The Elephant” is amazing, with something different in every page of the booklet.
Finally, I am considering “Cyeria” as the best Greek release so far in 2012, because I think that it has all the elements that an album of whatever music genre should have in order to be good, contemporary and maintain the possibility to attract more mainstream crowd, leaving behind bias, and any preconceptions.
