"A blend of Swedish Symphonic Rock and English Doom"...I can't really say that I know many bands whose style combines elements from both these schools, but a description like this would be more than enough to make me wanna invest in any such band. This, by the way, was the idea behind the creation of the Swedish quintet The Provenance, but anyone who listens to the band's latest effort "Red Flags" will realise that the Scandinavians have gone a long way in terms of musical progression.

In their fourth studio album, the members of The Provenance seem to move further away from their Doom Metal roots and invest in a style which combines the progressive elements of bands like Opeth and Tool with atmospheric/melodic experimentations that can normally be found in the music of Katatonia, Soul Cages and as far back as Eloy. If you add to that Emma Hellstrom's voice, you can understand why Peaceville Records decided to add this band in their rota.

As expected, there are many things happening in this album, so a few spins would not be enough to give you a clear understanding of what "Red Flags" is all about. The dynamic/rhythmical low-chorded guitar riffs in songs like "At The Barricades" and "Crash Course" are a welcoming introduction to this album, and will totally impress you with their power and "catchiness", but it’s the most atmospheric and multi-layered compositions that completely blew my mind away!

What is it that anyone can say about a song like "Second and Last But Not Always" that will be enough to do it justice? The main feature here is Emma Hellstrom's beautiful vocal performance which is comparable to Anneke van Giersbergen's in songs like "Nightime Birds". Tobias Martinsson's vocal contribution in the refrain and the beautiful collaboration between keyboards and acoustic guitars help create an almost epic atmosphere that you will rarely find in a band of such genre. Fans of Katatonia's "Viva Emptiness" era will definitely appreciate "Thanks to You" and "Leave-Takings", whereas the ones who drink wine in the name of Opeth will surely go for the technical and dynamic comprising riffs of "Revelling Madness".

Having listened to "Red Flags" for more times than I can possible remember, I cannot say that there is a single song that I found to be boring or out of place! The members of The Provenance must be really proud for having released such a great album, and you must feel compelled to add it in your collection! See you at the barricades!!!!!

****½

Review by John Stefanis