Withem The Unforgiving Road

2016, Withem is an upcoming Progressive Metal band hailing from Norway inspired by the likes of Symphony X, Pagan's Mind and Circus Maximus. The band had its inception in 2011 when Øyvind Voldmo Larsen (guitars) and Ketil Ronold (keyboards) met the remarkable drummer Frank Nordeng Røe. Shortly they were joined by the voice talent Ole Aleksander Wagenius. Stylistically Withem's music offers varied sonic landscapes for the listener to explore, whether with its elaborate interplay between all musicians or with straightforward power metal anthems. It ranges from guilty-pleasure choruses permeated with memorable vocal hooks (,,Born To Live"), to symphonic epic themes (,,Paramount Of Lies"). There are 50 minutes worth of thrills and melody-driven songs, without drifting into the clichés of overly long instrumental sections and sheer complexity for complexity's sake. The unique vocal range of Ole Aleksander Wagenius gives the band a much-needed distinctive touch to tackle the overcrowded progressive metal scene.