It’s rare that a band’s debut release is a 70-minute progressive-rock concept album chronicling an epic conflict between nature and technology, set in a futuristic dystopia. It’s next to unheard of that this work is produced crisply, is musically technical and is actually fun to listen to.
“The Forest of Dance,” by hometown heroes Restless Groove, spins the tale of four friends (who look strikingly similar to the members of the band) as they join forces with the creatures of The Forest of Dance. Set in the year 2211, the forest is under attack by the Mayor of Funk City and Macky, his “misguided tool of destruction,” according to the liner notes.
Similarities to “Avatar” and “Fern Gully” aside, the record uses its storyline to express themes of alienation, technological advancement and the classic battle of good vs. evil. It opens with airy acoustic guitars and a carefree groove, while Pete Gerard’s breathy voice comes in singing, “Time keeps spinning fast every year, but those same thoughts keep ringing in my ears.”
Yet the lyrics aren’t where the band excels. It’s the musical precision that gives Restless Groove their power. The band stays together note for note, bar for bar, throughout the entire album. Their timing never slips even as both Gerard and fellow guitarist Ryan Kirkpatrick bound up and down the neck, often times playing blistering unison lines.
Bassist Josh Bernier and drummer Justin Michaud keep the band locked down as well, even when Bernier begins slapping away or Michaud starts pounding on the double bass drum pedal.
Instrumentally, they are defined by these jagged unison lines and funkadelic wah pedal rhythms. The formula can get somewhat tiresome by the end of the album, but the band knows what they are good at. There are plenty of allusions to their heavier, more progressive roots — “March of the Kodiaks” could easily be a Coheed and Cambria single — but the record stays jammy enough to dance to most of the time. It’s enough parts Grateful Dead and enough parts Rush to keep everyone happy.
It’s actually this same formula that carries listeners through some questionable songwriting decisions later in the album. Gerard’s rapping on “Mr. Mayor” is a big swing and a miss and even when they bring in Andrew Downey to rap on “The Puzzle,” his quick flow can’t keep the song from sounding like a bad Rage Against the Machine knock-off. But these guys aren’t afraid to take risks.
The production on the album is clean and nicely arranged, placing the guitars in stereo throughout, which gives each player their own personality. Vocals sound somewhat distant at times and it would have been nice to see them get more imaginative with instrumentations — although there is a sweet organ part thrown in there. However, everything that needs to be heard is heard, and it sounds great.
Overall, “The Forest of Dance” is a very cohesive concept album. It starts off light-hearted with songs like “Big California,” while the distorted, instrumental songs chronicling the battle scenes are much heavier. When they finally reprise “Slap Your Sole” at the end, listeners are reminded why Restless Groove is such a fun band to listen to — they are four guys who really know how to play their instruments.
Grade: B+