By: The Ballad - 8/10/2022
Released in July, 2022, Antimai is the 9th studio album from American progressive rock band, The Dear Hunter. Characterized as “space funk,” it is the first full-length LP in their new, upcoming collection of concept albums. Telling a totally different story from that of their popular first series, Acts I-V, Antimai gives an overview of the setting in which this new story will take place.
Set in a futuristic, dystopian world, the city of Antimai is the last human civilization remaining. The city is split into different castes of people via the eight dividing rings; with the higher classes living in the inner rings, and lower ones living in the outer. Taking a look at the album cover, we get a top-down view of these rings inside the circular structure of the city. The album has eight tracks, each being dedicated to a specific ring. We start on the outside, in Ring 8.
1. Ring 8 – Poverty
The outskirts of the walled city: its inhabitants are extremely poor, living in treacherous terrain and horrible conditions. Even though the people of the city constantly suffer from hunger and drought, they have a strong faith in their religion. Believing that a divine child, The Indigo Child, is prophesied to be their messiah and come take their pain away, they continue to live outside the walls of the city and wait for that day.
This track introduces us to The Dear Hunter’s new “space funk” sound. Though still very distinctly their own style, the use of heavier grooves throughout the album give this new storyline more of a defining sound. The instrumentation in general is more complex, with the use of non-traditional instruments like brass, distorted synths, and lots of different types of tuned percussion, marimba, xylophone, and glockenspiel being a few. This track specifically is very heavy in its use of this percussion; the only other ones using it this heavily being “Ring 2 – Nature,” and “Ring 3 – Luxury.” In regards to vocals, frontman Casey Crescenzo sounds as powerful and clear as he always has. Given that The Dear Hunter’s first album was released in 2007, it’s good to see that Crescenzo seems to be able to healthily maintain his vocal range over the years.
2. Ring 7 – Industry
The largest ring of the enclosed city, this area is home to the people who work in the factories and warehouses. Referred to in the song as “bio-pariahs,” these people are those that were kicked out of the upper rings, or couldn’t make it in the sixth ring, LoTown.
Being the first teaser song to be released off the album, this track is notably groove heavy. The bass line is paralleled by a distorted synth, with brass and electric guitar as the main riff/melodic drivers.. The percussion adds subtle embellishments throughout, being very noticeable at the 3:23 mark, where there is a very funky bass solo that provides a nice contrast from the choral and brass build that happens half-way through the chorus.
3. Ring 6 – LoTown
The farmland for Antimai: this ring is a state-appointed hub to grow crops and provide the food for the rest of the rings. Food quotas continue to increase, however, the quality of the land continues to deteriorate as this ring gets little sunlight.
More similar to The Dear Hunter’s earlier albums, this song hearkens back to that older sound. It still makes use of the percussion, synth, and brass, but is a more balanced sound compared to the other songs, and is somewhat reminiscent of the popular single, “Waves” from Act IV, though it lacks the heavy use of strings that is on that album. There’s a vocal motif in the chorus that is supposed to represent the people of this ring singing along and layering with Crescenzo’s main vocals, which acts like a narrator for this song. Though not a personal favorite, it is still very strong and can stand on its own. The rest of the songs seem to have more defining characteristics, and so this one becomes somewhat lost amongst the crowd.
4. Ring 5 – Middle Class
Home to the middle class of Antimai; these people are basically brainwashed by the State. Tasked to procreate, the people of this ring are under constant threat of being cast down to the lower rings if they don’t keep their heads down and do their jobs. They realize that they can’t leave, but they are still thankful to their god and think that they have it good in their situation, as they are blinded by the comforts they are given.
This track is somewhat broken into two parts, Part One being similar to the balanced sound of “LoTown,” again using layered vocals and brass to give the main motifs. There is a slower, more ambient section before Part 2, with really no groove in this section. Part 2 follows this slower section with a hook that uses a driving brass line to provide the space for the drums and bass to play a very funky groove. The slower verse-chorus section comes back, and then returns to the groovy hook after. They stay on this groove as the song fades out.
5. Ring 4 – Patrol
Sung in the perspective of a patrolman, Ring 4 is where the police of Antimai reside. It mainly consisting of training grounds and barracks, so there aren’t actually a ton of people who spend a lot of time here. The patrolman talks about the power he wields, and how he uses it to keep the people of Antimai in line, but at the same time says that if he disobeys that he’ll also end up dead.
Musically this track is very different from its preceding songs. It uses a retro synth sound that makes it stand out from the others, and the groove is more of a whole body groove rather than one that just makes you move your head. The transitions between each verse into the choruses are fantastic. They transition with a very abrupt shout of “Power!” from Crescenzo, as they go from the upbeat verse to the more saturated chorus groove. Though not necessarily happy sounding, the song is whimsical, and one of the most energetic on the album.
6. Ring 3 – Luxury
The most luxurious ring: this area is home to the wealthy upper class, as well as the “Guides,” or governing religious leaders of Antimai. “Part 1: Hall of the Guides” is told from the perspective of the Guides, as they talk about how they can do anything they want to maintain the status quo, since they have been divined by the lower classes. “Part 2: Cream of the Crop” is sung from the perspective of the upper class, as they talk about how they’re the “chosen, righteous few,” and how the lower classes save up all their lives to just get a taste of how they live in one day.
The second teaser, and the longest song on the album, this track is also split into two sections, but even more distinctly. Part 1 is darker, using guitar and the lower toms of the drum kit as the Guides talk about their power. It has a heavy groove and lots of brass, reminiscent of the big band sound that was used on Act V in “Mr. Usher (On His Way to Town).” Part 2 alludes to the upcoming song, “Ring 2,” as we see a reappearance of lots of the tuned percussion. It’s lighter in tone, lacking in heavy groove until the very end as the outro plays and we get one of the best sections on the whole album. The guitar starts playing a riff that puts the simple drum pattern on the off-beat, which is then complimented by a brass melody, and finally when the vocals come in, Crescenzos shouts perfectly accent this section and make it one of the most head-bobbing parts of the album.
7. Ring 2 – Nature
Ring 2 acts as a sort of greenhouse for the remnants of nature in this desolate world. All plants now live here, as Nature rebelled against the people from Ring 3 stealing them as trophies of their status, and has claimed this ring as their own. The plants reminisce about a time before humans, as they talk about how they’ll be here long after people have died out.
As in the preceding track, the tuned percussion makes a big reappearance in this song and plays a big role in the instrumentation. It is the most relaxed song on the album, as Crescenzo sings very simple, yet pleasing melodies. It does have a quick tempo, as you can hear a shaker playing very fast sixteenth notes in the verses and choruses, but it doesn’t feel rushed. It turns a little darker as the tempo slows and the brass are brought in when the plants start talking about how they will outlive the humans towards the end of the song.
8. Ring 1 – Tower
The very last “ring,” is actually a giant tower in the middle of the city where the God Emperor resides. He speaks about how life is a dream, and that everyone in Antimai is just a part of his dream. He says that they are lucky they even get to see him, and why should he “need new clothes” if he is able to just rule with an iron fist to achieve the same outcome of total control.
The culmination of the “space funk” sound, this track pulls out all the stops instrumentally. It is heavy and dense with lots of dark tones: many different synth sounds, a vocoder, ambient keys and guitar, and brass. The whole track has a heavy groove, with the choruses standing out for how nasty they are. Full stank-face is in effect by the end. The closing synth sound ends abruptly as it is intended for this album to lead right into the next in this series.
Conclusion:
To conclude, this album is a great listen for honestly anyone. It isn’t off-putting in any way, and would be a great introduction to the prog world for someone who has never heard anything like this before. It is a subtle, yet mature progression of the band’s sound, and as a first record for this new set of concept albums, it does a great job introducing us to the world of Antimai. Future albums have a very solid framework to build on for even further development of the story.
Rating: 9/10
Our Favorite Song: “Ring 1 – Tower”
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