Red Cain – Näe’bliss Review

2021 is one of those years that should have an asterisk attached for one reason or another, not the least of which is that our dear Kronos¹ went and reviewed power metal favorably. Yes, it was Red Cain’s 2021 effort Kindred: Act II that solidified his inner weenie²—power metal of the most synth-entangled and anthemic variety. A veritable sticky-sweet cocktail weenie stew of Amaranthe chorus fury with one singer who bests any of the mouth sounds that Swedish studio creation can muster, Red Cain previously has offered nothing of the variety that would appeal to extreme metal fans. Näe’bliss ups the ante, more of a jambalaya to the slow cooker specialty of little smokies in barbeque sauce that Kindred: Act II served. But is it now too spicy for the sing-a-long metal crowd?

Whether through the gleeful weenie-ing that Red Cain received in these halls or natural ambition, Näe’bliss pulls heavier weight prog/power punches than previous outings. Big intro bellows signal the memorable sounds of an anthemic Blind Guardian (“Fisher King,” “Fires of Heaven”). Powerhouse vocalist Evgeniy Zayarny shrieks and howls alongside new bassist and additional growler Kalie Yan (The Luminary Plot) with neoclassical melodies that echo the success of early Kamelot. If it weren’t for Zayarny’s recognizable baritone croon and the occasional trip-hop inspired synth embellishments, it would be easy to confuse Red Cain for a long-lost artifact of the 00’s prog/power scene—cured in the salts of a bombastic and well-worn sound.

As such Red Cain uses Näe’bliss to showcase the slickest noodling and power grooving of their career but not without continuing their tendency to crescendo overload. Zayarny’s Barlow-full³ wails (“Fisher King,” “Fires of Heaven”) strike with great fury, but by the time the second half of the album settles in Näe’bliss feels a bit boiled over. The instrumental break “Sightblinder” in its chunky and squealing groove hits that Adagio progressive baroque histrionic build before guiding us into a one-two story-driven suite.⁴ Unfortunately both “The Man Who Can’t Forget (Part I)” and “Crane of Malkier (Part II)” feel like one rising vocal line after another that ultimately leads to an unfulfilling conclusion. A pair like this lives intertwined to a fault with neither movement having enough of an individual character to stand alone, so why bother disrupting them with a seemingly unfinished fadeout segue?

Criticisms notwithstanding Zayarny and his ensemble perform at such a high level throughout that there are plenty of reasons why Red Cain will amass new followers. The syncopated strum that stumbles “Blight” to earshot and the various string-skipping neoclassical solos that pepper near every song (courtesy of new guitarist Samuel Ridout) give Näe’bliss a technical edge of the more standard sweeping power metal fare. The toned-down synth presence, relegated now to quick ethereal passages and additional backing energy, give even more space for Zayarny and Ridout to hook, all of which helps Red Cain bring home the galloping epic conclusion “Fires of Heaven.” Predictably though things can get loud and the drum kit sounds distractingly explosive—power metal doesn’t have to be this way guys! But at 36 minutes it’s easy to overlook.

Somehow Näe’bliss strikes the impossible-to-predict combo of too many peaks, too damn loud, and simply too catchy—hard to drop no matter what you know you dislike about it. Yes, every time I return I encounter the same flow issue on the back half. Yes, everytime I hit “Blight,” “We Are Chaos,” “Sightblinder,” the closing solo of “Fires of Heaven,” I stank face and air guitar with little regard for whoever may see. My weenie past⁵ will never be gone from my inner music enjoyer, no matter how much grind, slam, BDM and whatever IQ draining snare sounds I seek out for recreation to pound my gray matter to pulp. Red Cain hasn’t yet made an album for the ages in this modern expression of classic prog/power exuberance, but each record thus far has swung for the fences and landed in good graces—stop sitting around and spin some Red Cain!

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self Release
Websites: redcain.ca | redcain.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/redcainofficial
Releases Worldwide: June 2nd, 2023