ARRIVAL started out as a one-man-project in the year 1999 (mastermind: Sinkkonen) and, not long afterwards, the first demo came out ~ maybe not so, as it was not for sale (and only a limited number of copies were given away). Still, it was enough for a number of people to grow interested in the ‘band’, which result in a deal with Finish label KTOK (DEVILRY, etc.) ~ apparently, this deal never saw the bright of dawn.
It was their second demo, Icon of Worthless, that granted ARRIVAL a deal with Edgerunner and so it is that they are here under the review format. All members (except Sinkkonen) play in OBSESSIVE ART.
‘Finish Avant-Darkness’ (whatever that may be) present us with a rather interesting debut full-length. Notwithstanding the fact that this type of sound is not my top priority these days (would probably have had a warmer reception some years ago), it still rang a number of familiar bells and bands ~ which is not necessarily bad.
And then comes the annoying label: as if ‘Dark Metal’ were not weird, vague and ‘abstract’ enough, some people seem to consider it more exaggeratedly still: ‘Symphonic Dark Black Metal’. Whatever. They should know.
An Abstract of Inertia starts out with a very mind-numbing intro and progresses towards a very appealing offer ~ that is to say, I have like it a rather lot.
One would generally say ARRIVAL’s offering shares a number of features with DIMMU BORGIR, OLD MAN’S CHILD and TIDFALL, but the final outcome, the direction and path trod differs substantially from the aforementioned bands.
Filled with keyboard atmospheres as it is, the album never really gets cheesy or corny. Two immediate bands that help render ARRIVAL’s sound more clear could be ‘97~era CROWN OF THORNS and NIGHTWISH (without the vocals).
The instrumental intermezzo: Channel 352 is a favorite.
For bureaucratically obscure reasons, it took me quite some time to finally reviewing this album, but it is finally published. Not intending to do any further praise of the band, I would just like to point out that I am definitely awaiting their next offering.
Cover Arrival – An Abstract Of Inertia Front
Arrival – Spacepenetrator