Artist: Brave Saint Saturn
Album: Anti-Meridian
Year: 2009
Label: Department Of Biophysics
Website: http://www.bravesaintsaturn.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bravesaintsaturn
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bravesaintsaturn
Twitter: @BraveSaint
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: Earhtbound, ELO, Five Iron Frenzy, Roper, David Bowie, Radiohead, Mogwai, Derek Webb
Rating: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥

I don’t think I was the only one waiting 5 long years to see Brave Saint Saturn conclude this magnificent musical history that began with the name of Five Iron Frenzy. A band that creates conceptual albums elaborated about space travels, with interplanetary synthesized beats. This is how we define the trilogy called “Anti-Meridian”, with 17 songs that exploit themes of despair, failure, and salvation. Intelligent lyrics that are based on faith, life, loss, loneliness and the love of God.

“‘They shall have stars at elbow and foot / Though they go mad, they shall be sane / Though they sink through the sea, they shall rise again / Though lovers be lost, love shall not / And death shall have no dominion”. The opening song, “Here Is The News” receives two inspirations. Electric Light Orchestra originally wrote this song and the intro is the story of a famous poem by Dylan Thomas. Quirky synthesizers sound and distorted guitar riffs that are consumed in an instant to give way to the next track. “Mercenary” is a Reese Roper’s classic song with catchy, happy tunes, but it criticizes the actions of the society: “Armed to the teeth, score one for treachery / I am a mercenary / There’s more lies here, than we can all bury / I am a mercenary”. Deviating from previous sound, “Starling” becomes acoustic, sometimes it sounds like a lament. It tells the suffering of a child and a small bird whose he fatally injured, and asks God: “Raise their souls up to the sky / Why must helpless creatures die?”. An illustration of how Christians sometimes hurt those who they trying to save. Dennis Culp stars “Underground”, a protest against the totalitarian ideologies: “Real change doesn’t come from a mandate / Real love you cannot legislate”. Argues that the music created by the love cannot be corrupted by the culture, society and entertainment; while the guitars add a touch of grunge to synthesizers. “When You Burn Too Fast” is consumed with fear and regret. The melody of the verses ironically resembles “Hotel California” by The Eagles, with dark background vocals, an unwavering xylophone and heads bowed electric guitars. It floods of sentiment and reflection on how ephemeral and treacherous is the fame. Fortunately, “Through Depths Of Twilight” brings hope to our ears: “And we will burn the starless night / The truth will ring through depths of twilight”. Reese sings a few references to Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King on racism, slavery, equality and beautiful pictures about shining the light of Christ into the darkness. Dennis sings in the impulsivity and exhilarating “Hero’s Homecoming”, the triumphal return of the band: “Underneath the smiles / A melancholy weighs upon them all the while / They can’t forget the cost / The innocence of youth and brave ones who were lost”. Reese’s thoughts are reflected in “Ammodramus” telling their new experience of life on earth. The excellent harmonious voices exercise of Reese and Dennis makes “Fields Of The Fallen” a beautiful work of art that shows the struggle of the search for God. Abundant acoustic guitars and synthesizers in a crude delicate lyric: ““I’m trying to break through / I am reaching for the sky / I am frayed, torn in two / Through fields of the fallen / Lost in the gray”. An introspective look to the sad modern scheme of just mediocre and irresponsible parenting, it’s how we find the painful “Always Just Beneath The Dawn”. Pain and hope in the same song: “Boys need fathers, every daughter / Every broken heart so gone / I believe that Love is greater / Never ceasing, always hoping / Always just beneath the dawn”. The desire to lose the fame and recognition is reflected in “Fortress Of Solitude”. An odd, progressive melody that is full of references to Superman, and his frustrations. Based on the biblical portion of Matthew 5:5-9 and the Beatitudes, the band is not shy about criticizing the suspicious prosperity on “Blessed Are The Land Mines”. A crude satire of the Christian church that calls itself as Christian while supports the wars and took shelter under the pockets of the wealthy instead of showing the love of God to the world. Powerful guitars and a versatile vocal performance that echoes your headphones. “Aegolius” is another of those spoken interludes and shows us a perspective of life after a space mission. “Begin Again” shines through the grace and second chances. Small traces of reggae thanks to the beat provided by the bass and guitar: “Fire comes and it burns all the brush away / Rain comes down / Snow falling in a lifeless grey / Sun comes down / Something new comes cautiously from the dust / And spreads its limbs toward the heavens”. I like the way the album is firing, and in this way we find “These Frail Hands” which speaks about hope in God, a postulate of surrender and humiliation to acknowledge that we are nothing without Him, and the magnitude of His own love toward us: “And these frail hands / They tremble as they pen perhaps their last / And these weak words / Can never say what cannot be surpassed / I need your love / And most of all I want to feel your peace / I need your love / Let everything that you are not decrease”. The acoustic work is simply glorious. “Invictus” closes this route with a gold brooch, in a sincere praise to the King of Kings, the Invincible and Eternal God. Is the prayer of King David who along with the voice of Amy (Roper’s wife) raised a humble living sacrifice. The bonus track “Here Is The News (ELO Style Radio Edit)” again mesmerizes us with those electric spasms and its inspiring concept.

Stories from an alien and captivating perspective. The creativity of Brave Saint Saturn is immeasurable, both lyrically and musically. A well-deserved, historical, epic end for a band that has retained its essence through the years. “Anti-Meridiam” does not appeal to popular tastes, but it touches the heartstrings.

Creo que no he sido el único en esperar 5 largos años por ver a Brave Santi Saturn concluír esta magnífica historia musical que empezó con el nombre de Five Iron Frenzy. Una banda que crea álbumes conceptuales elaborados sobre viajes espaciales, con interplanetarios latidos sintetizados. Es así como definimos la trilogía llamada “Anti-Meridian”, con 17 canciones que explotan temas de desesperación, fracaso y salvación. Letras inteligentes que se basan en la fe, la vida, la pérdida, la soledad y el amor de Dios.

“‘They shall have stars at elbow and foot / Though they go mad, they shall be sane / Though they sink through the sea, they shall rise again / Though lovers be lost, love shall not / And death shall have no dominion”. La canción de apertura, “Here Is The News” recibe dos inspiraciones. Originalmente Electric Light Orchestra escribió esta canción y la introducción es el relato de un famoso poema de Dylan Thomas. Extravagantes sintetizadores sólidos riffs de guitarras distorsionadas que se consumen en un instante para dar paso al siguiente track. “Mercenary” es una clásica canción de Reese Roper, con pegajosas y alegres melodías, pero que critica los actos de la sociedad: “Armed to the teeth, score one for treachery / I am a mercenary / There’s more lies here, than we can all bury / I am a mercenary”. Desviándose del sonido anterior, “Starling” se torna acústico, a veces suena como un lamento. Nos relata el sufrimiento de un niño y un pequeño pájaro al que lesionó mortalmente, y le pregunta a Dios: “Raise their souls up to the sky / Why must helpless creatures die?”. Una ilustración de cómo a veces los cristianos lastiman a aquellos que tratan de salvar. Dennis Culp protagoniza “Underground”, una protesta hacia las ideologías totalitarias: “Real change doesn’t come from a mandate / Real love you cannot legislate”. Sostiene además que la música creada por el amor no puede ser corrompida por la cultura, la sociedad o el espectáculo, mientras que las guitarras le dan un toque grunge a los sintetizadores. “When You Burn Too Fast” se consumen con el miedo y el arrepentimiento. La melodía de las estrofas se asemeja irónicamente a “Hotel California” de The Eagles; con unos tenebrosos coros de fondo, un inquebrantable xilófono y cabizbajas guitarras eléctricas. Se inunda de sentimiento y reflexión acerca de lo efímero y traicionero que es la fama. Afortunadamente, “Through Depths Of Twilight” trae esperanza a nuestros oídos: “And we will burn the starless night / The truth will ring through depths of twilight”. Reese canta algunas referencias de Abraham Lincoln y Martin Luther King con respecto al racismo, la esclavitud, la igualdad y hermosas imágenes acerca de brillar con la luz de Cristo en la oscuridad. Dennis nos canta en la impulsadora y regocijante “Hero’s Homecoming” sobre el desfile triunfal del retorno de la banda: “Underneath the smiles / A melancholy weighs upon them all the while / They can’t forget the cost / The innocence of youth and brave ones who were lost”. Los pensamientos de Reese se plasman en “Ammodramus” relatando su nueva experiencia de vida en la tierra. El excelente ejercicio armónico de las voces de Reese y Dennis hace de “Fields Of The Fallen” toda una hermosa obra de arte que muestra la lucha de la búsqueda de Dios. Abundantes guitarras acústicas y delicados sintetizadores en una cruda lírica: “I’m trying to break through / I am reaching for the sky / I am frayed, torn in two / Through fields of the fallen / Lost in the gray”. Una mirada introspectiva al triste esquema moderno de paternidad mediocre e irresponsable, es como encontramos a la dolorosa “Always Just Beneath The Dawn”. Dolor y esperanza en una misma canción: “Boys need fathers, every daughter / Every broken heart so gone / I believe that Love is greater / Never ceasing, always hoping / Always just beneath the dawn”. El deseo de perder la fama y reconocimiento se refleja en “Fortress Of Solitude”. Una extraña y progresiva melodía que se llena de referencias a Superman, y sus frustraciones. Basada en la porción bíblica de Mateo 5:5-9 y la Bienaventuranzas, la banda no se avergüenza de criticar la prosperidad sospechosa en “Blessed Are The Land Mines”. Una cruda sátira de la iglesia que se dice cristiana mientras que apoya las guerras y busca cobijarse bajo los bolsillos de los acaudalados en lugar de mostrar el amor de Dios al mundo. Potentes guitarras y una versátil performance vocal que retumba tus audífonos. “Aegolius” es otro de esos interludios hablados y nos muestra una perspectiva sobre la vida después de una misión espacial. “Begin Again” se trasluce por medio de la gracia y las segundas oportunidades. Pequeños trazos de reggae gracias al beat proporcionado por el bajo y la guitarra: “Fire comes and it burns all the brush away / Rain comes down / Snow falling in a lifeless grey / Sun comes down / Something new comes cautiously from the dust / And spreads its limbs toward the heavens”. Me gusta el modo en que el álbum se va despidiendo, y en este trayecto hallamos “These Frail Hands” que habla sobre la esperanza en Dios, en un postulado de rendición y humillación al reconocer que no somos nada sin Él, y la magnitud de su amor para con nosotros: “And these frail hands / They tremble as they pen perhaps their last / And these weak words / Can never say what cannot be surpassed / I need your love / And most of all I want to feel your peace / I need your love / Let everything that you are not decrease”. El trabajo acústico es simplemente glorioso. “Invictus” cierra con broche de oro este recorrido, en una alabanza sincera al Rey de Reyes, al Invencible y Eterno Dios. Es la oración del rey David que junto a la voz de Amy (esposa de Roper) elevan un quebrantado y humilde sacrificio vivo. El bonus track “Here Is The News (ELO Style Radio Edit)” nuevamente nos hipnotiza con sus eléctricos espasmos y aquel concepto inspirador.

Historias desde una perspectiva alienígena y cautivante. La creatividad de Brave Saint Saturn es inmensurable, tanto lirica como musicalmente. Un final bien merecido, histórico, épico para una banda que ha mantenido su esencia a través de los años. “Anti-Meridiam” no apela a los gustos populares, pero que toca las fibras del corazón.