{"id":13265,"date":"2024-12-18T22:00:05","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T03:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=13265"},"modified":"2024-12-19T08:04:26","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T13:04:26","slug":"review-herin-hiding-in-plain-sight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/18\/review-herin-hiding-in-plain-sight\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Herin – Hiding in Plain Sight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Herin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not only does this album mark the debut solo release for Tiles\u2019 iconic Chris Herin, but it marks, for me, the first album I\u2019ve ever encountered which deals with the tragedy of one of the worst afflictions of humankind \u2013 dementia. This collaborative effort \u2013 Herin incorporating an expansive cadre of musicians\/singers \u2013 is a victory for both the artist and the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dementia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ok, sadly, there is no victory for the disease (yet), but the willingness to expend the emotional energy and artistic creativity for 50 some minutes of music which serves to illuminate the depth of dementia\u2019s impact on the afflicted \u2013 and upon their loved ones \u2013 is praiseworthy and noteworthy all in the same breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chris Herin has been one of the most underrated songwriter\/guitarists\/keyboardists in progressive rock for quite some time now \u2026 basically since the release of the first Tiles album in 1994. That record was so amazingly refreshing and creative during an era when rock music, especially progressive rock, was taking a back seat to the surge of the depressing dirge of suicidal groove called \u201cgrunge.\u201d The upbeat and \u201cinspiring\u201d sincerity of that debut Tiles album remains unsurpassed. Not only was the self-titled debut a tribute to what had gone before, but also a statement of endurance and perseverance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tiles – Self-Titled Debut (1994) (Dream Circle)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Incidentally, the last we heard from Tiles (or Chris Herin) was the 2016 release Pretending 2 Run<\/em>, which was reviewed on these pages – an epic masterpiece of progressive rock brilliance. See review HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Soundtrack to the End of Mind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keeping it spartan, the CD is housed in a digipak with 12-page booklet including lyrics and credits. Hugh Syme provides the artwork, illustration and designs so while simple, the images are creatively impactful. This is appropriate as the focus here is clearly on the words \u2013 the music serving emotively as the soundtrack to the end of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Animated Not Alive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Appropriately, the opening \u201cWarning Signs<\/strong>\u201d \u2013 featuring Saga\u2019s Michael Sadler on vocals \u2013 is warmly familiar to fans of Tiles rock. This is in part due to the virtuosic drum groove laid down by Shane Gaalaas (very Mark Evans-like) and the bass groove laid down by Keven Chown (who also played on that Tiles debut). Not only does the song succeed in bridging Herin\u2019s musical heritage with this solo debut, but the words serve as introduction to the subtle way in which \u201cthings change\u201d overnight with the mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cGet up from a dreamless sleep\/Unaware what\u2019s happening\/All you used to be lies buried inside\/In decay and in disguise\/Animated not alive\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Descent Into Darkness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Subsequently, \u201cThe Darkest Hour<\/strong>\u201d features a pulsating bass groove intro (which flows throughout the entirety of the song) followed by mandolin and flute by none other than Martin Barre (Jethro Tull). The description here \u2013 featuring vocalist Mark Mikel \u2013 delves more deeply into the loss of orientation which is part of the cognitive decline in dementia. The almost lilting and happy vibe of the song stands in paradox to the darkness of the cerebral hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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