Made up of musicians among the most respected on their respective instruments, the concept of SiX By SiX was an intriguing one from the outset. Following their well received eponymous debut album, the trio worked on the follow-up throughout 2023 and the result is the soon to be released Beyond Shadowland. For multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Robert Berry, it was a special time. “I’ve always believed that music has the power to bring people together. This record is a testament to that notion. As always, working with Ian and Nigel on an actual second album was a moving experience for me, special. We were able to retain the character of our first record, then push it forward to an even heavier guitar vibe and big-time hammer like drum driven rhythms.”
There is much truth to be found in Berry’s words as Beyond Shadowland does represent a deliberate attempt to bring a more demanding edge to the band’s music. Opener Wren is the perfect showcase for both the band’s progressive tendencies and the driving melodic hard rock that combine to wonderful effect across the majority of the album. Balancing keyboards and guitar as the main thrust of the track, SiX By SiX begin with one of the best songs to be found on the album. Beyond the pulsating rhythms of Wren, there are some exquisite details to enjoy such as the beautiful short moments of glissando guitar from Ian Crichton just under two minutes into the track. Berry’s vocals are captivating as he weaves the narrative exploring the navigation of life, learning from and enjoying each moment. Life is amusing / It’s like nothing that you’ve felt before / Yeah! Lost in its music / It’s a chance at being reborn.
Wren flows directly into Arms of a Word which in places has a whiff of Deep Purple and is a scathing attack on the culture of clickbait media. Us humans seek the safety of the world / We dream but find that greed is right there waitin’ / Exploitation set on overload til full / Cross your heart, jump out in salvation. Arms of a Word is a heavyweight hard rock track and Nigel Glocker’s imposing drumming is fully evident throughout, along with invigorating, vibrant guitar work from Crichton ranging from muscular chords, weighty riffs and stimulating solos. Third song Can’t Live Like This rounds off a trio of harder edged tracks with its propulsive rock groove, urgent bass lines and robust percussion. Crichton is once again all over the track enjoying the chance to explore different avenues as both a songwriter and guitarist. “I've dreamt about a 3 piece for years, so it’s been great doing something so different from Saga. On the new record, we kept our style but have written stylistically some quite different tunes. I gave Robert a lot of parts, sections, licks, middle 8s, etc. He added verses, bridges, etc... and vocals! He's a brilliant arranger. Of course, Nigel is a powerhouse. As always, he played great on this record.”
Obilex brings something quite different to the album. It reins in both dynamics and tempo reflecting the more mysterious meaning behind the lyrics, which contemplate drifting through the cosmos to a new horizon. Round and around / This prison’s escape / Life on a new path / Just floating away. Acoustically based, the track becomes more convincing in quality and scope as it progresses, culminating with a grandeur in keeping with the vast oceans of space on which SiX by SiX are floating. Only You Can Decide – the quietest, most introspective track on the album - continues the use of acoustic guitars and in the first half is reminiscent of some of the more meditative moments a listener might expect from Magnum.
The romping Titans features a seriously compelling groove and a scorching guitar solo from Crichton who – like the rest of the band – sounds like he is having the time of his life. In addition to this, there is clearly a mutual respect between the band that extends beyond simply their relationship as musicians as Glocker elaborates. “Playing with Ian and Robert is always great. I was in GTR with Robert so have known him a longtime, and we always got on. I’ve known Ian for a while too since Saga and Saxon have cropped up frequently on the same bill at German festivals. We were both recording in the same studio complex in Munich at one time. From the off, we all got on like best buddies; the first meet up was like welcoming old friends. That’s very important to me. No egos to contend with, and away from the music, we love just hanging out together, be it sitting in a bar or eating out or whatever.”
Adding further variation, Outside Looking In dabbles with more straight-ahead melodic rock verging on AOR and while it is a fairly interesting diversion, it does not capture the listener as much as some of the more belligerent material. Delving into the potentially thorny topic of how different people see us in different ways, if this tallies with how we see ourselves and whether the way others view us varies because of how much of ourselves we reveal to them. It’s the desire to make it to the other side / Too much caution, you’ll miss it / Right past the point of where life ignites / Not the things that you want from the very start / But it’s there to reach right before your eyes. Like Wren, songs such as Spectre and Sympathise delicately balance the persistent, assertive hard rock elements of their sound with intelligent use of interesting time signatures. They are both bold, spirited fast-paced journeys with Sympathise, in particular, redolent of a rampaging car chase through the concrete monoliths of a modern city.
Penultimate track One Step – the longest on the album - is the most obviously progressive track on Beyond Shadowland. In Berry’s words, “One Step was written about a guy who really let me down. I had this guy all wrong. What I thought he was turned out to be the exact opposite of what he actually was. The real tragedy is in the wasted time and lost future. There’s very few people you meet in life where the bond is made and it follows through the years. Then all of a sudden, the trust is broken and the time just disappears. Such a shame.”
One Step is part lamenting melancholy for and part vitriolic damnation of the man who caused so much pain. You gambled it all at the game of life / Thought you wouldn’t get caught / It’s a game / One step, one step you get closer / You fell, you’ve fallen and you’re using it / One word, one word I trusted / You buried the knife like you always did. Musically multi-faceted, it features pensive piano, brooding guitar and the most complete vocal performance from Berry across the length of the album, with keyboards reminiscent of The King of Number 33 album by DeeExpus adding to the progressive atmosphere. Ending Beyond Shadowland on a triumphant note, The Mission is carried by positive energy, a Zebedee infused bounce and a joyous lyrical outlook. Unlock that mission / Something is waiting / Out in the distance / A world that you’re missing / That test of our hearts / Concealed from the start / There’s a change there / There’s a chance there.
Beyond Shadowland is a more diverse album than its predecessor and whether that is a positive or negative will depend on the individual listener. Those expecting an out and out prog-fest are likely to be disappointed. Nonetheless, tracks where prog and hard rock seamlessly combine – such as Wren, Arms of a Word and Spectre - are where Beyond Shadowland’s true strengths lie. The willingness to experiment beyond the parameters of its forerunner has allowed SiX by SiX to aim for something a little different without alienating those who enjoyed the debut as Robert Berry alludes, “We had fallen into a perfectionist trap. Album two had to be big and we only had one chance for the perfect follow-up to our debut album. It had to be something that would resonate with every single fan we had already gathered and also capture new fans.”
While Beyond Shadowland does not necessarily conquer any uniquely unexplored territory in the world of powerful, hard rock - the best material is to be found amongst the opening trio and closing duo of tracks and the effervescent joy of Titans - it is testament to the significant combined abilities of the contributing trio. The vast majority of the material is a solid amalgamation of the styles of the other bands to which its members belong; thus, SiX by SiX’s second release deserves to be heard by any fan of quality melodic hard rock. Explore beyond the shadowland today….
Beyond Shadowland is released on 26th April on InsideOut Music
Find SiX By SiX online:
Official Website: sixbysixband.com
Twitter: @sixbysixband
Instagram: sixbysixband
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