SAM KING – The Displaced – review

SAM KING – The Displaced – review
Self released

Glasgow, eh? There are many good things about Glasgow, in particular, the train to Edinburgh. And a graduate of Napier College. Many years ago, I worked the bar in the Merchiston students union. Never wanted to punch so many people, simultaneously. Cider and black. That was their thing. Fucksake.

Anyway, fast forward many moons and we have the debut album from Sam King. And it’s prog rock. Fair play to the fella. He obviously didn’t spend all his student loans on stupid things like books as he’s dipped into the piggy band for some top names to play a solo each. That would be Adam Holzman, Randy McStine and Derek Sherinian.

Mr King is one of those multi-instrumentalists who give failed bass players like me, nightmares. He takes care of vocals, drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, violin and trombone. Although one Cameron Smith plays bass on three tracks. Naturally, he also wrote the music which is pretty damn good. He says his influences include the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell and the Delgados. Obviously, someone would need much better ears than me to detect any of that.

He does vary his prog sound quite a like, going from classic prog right through to almost prog metal. When it’s good it’s very good. ‘Wreckage’ is a standout, replete with Moog solo from Adam Holzman and some mathmetal twists and turns. He even gives good ballad on ‘Hiding In Plain Sight’ but it’s the closing ‘Convergence’ that seals the deal. A proper epic which throws in all the key changes and all the tempo changes, and a mellotron. Result.

I have to say that his vocals aren’t the strongest but as there is more music than words, it’s definitely not a deal breaker.

The album is available from Bandcamp;.
https://samking.bandcamp.com/album/the-displaced