Somewhere in the beginning of 2023, I met Gerwin Gabry of the Dutch symphonic rock band Sideways on the internet. The band was about to release their new album Test Of Time. I promised to write a review about the album. Due to personal circumstances I was out of the running for a year and afterwards I forgot about it. But Gerwin showed character and simply approached me again. And here we are... a year after the release the band gets the review it deserves. Too late in the day, we can say. But Gerwin had a different approach, he saw this as extra "after burner" promotion. This all said, it's time to take a better look at the band Sideways and the album Test Of Time. Sideways was founded in 2003 and they describe themselves as a symphonic rock band which stands for melody, atmosphere, emotion and rock. Power and refinement are walking hand in hand in their music. Personally I think this description is really adequate. Test Of Times is their fifth studio album. On each album the band developed itself further and further towards a completely own style. Beside that, the band is a strong collective in which the different musical preferences of the band members are forged together into a fine interplay. The line-up is as follows: Alex Visser (vocals and guitar), Jurriaan Visser (keyboards), Gerwin Gabry (lead guitar and backing vocals), Berry Hoogeveen (drums) and Corné Gietman (bass guitar). This line-up has not changed since the band was founded. Test Of Times is an album which contains seven tracks divided just over an hour of music. Quick calculators among us now know that there are almost no short songs on the album. The length of the songs vary from five up to almost thirteen minutes. The first track on the album, For More, starts very melancholy with just guitar, keyboards and subdued vocals. The atmosphere changes after about a minute, then the rest of the band joins in and the song goes to mid-tempo and then undulates up and down. The overall atmosphere is melancholic and oppressive. Interesting are the transitions to the chorus and the chorus itself. These are more up-tempo and very melodic. For More is a real rollercoaster of atmospheres and in popular terms: never a dull moment. The guitar parts of Gerwin Gabry are more than tasty. Grey Day is an interesting track in my opinion. As a lot of the tracks, Grey Day has an undeniably melancholy atmosphere. These kind of atmospheres are always a brief darker and emotional than the rest. But on the other hand all the tracks have lots of other influences, atmospheres, etcetera. In this track it's the beat that lifts the track up. The beat feels like a walking pace, which I like. To me it gives always some kind of positive vibe. This seven minute track also has a remarkable guitar solo at the end. The solo is done with a wah-wah pedal and has a delaying effect. This all reminds me of the Billy Duffy solos on the Love (1985) album of The Cult. Probably it's a coincidence, but this is how I feel it. The third track on the album is Gambling Species. The track starts with a short and sad piano and violin intro. When the rest of the band start to participate at first the track stays in some sort of sad modus. Thereafter the track takes a surprising turn and unfolds in a Saga-like track, with staccato style riffs. Every now and then one falls back on quiet passages. This all makes it a varied track. With five minutes G is the shortest track on the album. G is an evergreen with some country and western influences. Personally I think that most progressive rock lovers won't really get the warm feelings and will probably skip the track. Within the prospective of songwriting it is a rather solid song. The transition to the track Entropy couldn't be bigger. Entropy is an eight minute track which contains all elements that makes progressive rock so effin' great. Atmospheres change, guitars go from loud distorted to rather clean and quiet. In general this track is also one in the melancholy category. It's sad to say but again the guitar parts are exceptional. Silence is the penultimate of this album. Once again it's a rather long track. The track starts with a rather dark atmosphere in which the beautiful and subdued singing takes us along the impressive track. The quiet passages are alternated by lead-heavy guitar riffs. I also like the repeating theme the piano plays. It's simple but very effective. It is one of my favorite songs on the album. The album is closed by a ten minute track which contains some Marillion and even Porcupine Tree influences. Once again the intro is rather quiet and melancholic. This is the trademark of Sideways. They often choose the melodic solution and this prevents the album becoming too moody. The end of the track is a real musical outro with even a David Gilmour-ish guitar solo. This are the guitar solo's they can wake me up for every time. Sideways has grown to a mature band. For sure it's the collective that makes the band strong. But, yes there is always a kind of "but": Gerwin Gabry is the captain of this squad. In my opinion he brings the melodic factor in this band. Beside that his playing is always from the heart, because it has a feel. I have all five albums in my collection and therefor I can state that this album is their strongest so far. The only track that doesn't catch me is G. This all said I rate the album with a 4+. ****+ Aad Bannink (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
