Earthside’s ambitious 2015 debut album, A Dream In Static, was impressive in its expansive and undeniably cinematic approach to prog metal, stretching what might be expected of the genre in a similar way to the likes of Riverside or Haken.
However, as the eight-year gap between it and this follow-up suggests, Let The Truth Speak hasn’t had a straightforward gestation. A plan to work with guest contributors from around the world was ambitious on paper, but teasing out intent, impact and meaning from the guts of every track has resulted in a fairly tortuous journey to reach accord on the album’s songs, sound and direction. On this evidence, however, the struggle has been worth it.
