DESCRIPTION:
German art rock band Crystal Palace is back with a brand new record entitled "The System of Events". On it they ask: "Is there a formula that determines our lives?" Well, we will see about that... However, the Berlin four-piece has most definitely solved an entirely different mystery: what does an art rock-album have to sound like these days? The answer: it has to sound like "The System of Events"! With the help of a dream team a real gemstone of an album has emerged.
After numerous releases, critical acclaim from all across the world and the production of a fan-anthem for Germany's leading ice hockey club, Crystal Palace has now teamed up with the label Gentle Art of Music and are set to release a piece of work on 04 October that once and for all establishes the band as a driving force among the German art rock community. "The System of Events" distinguishes itself through courageous songwriting, intelligent arrangements and a compelling storyline that takes the listener on a thrilling journey of eight brilliantly crafted songs: Is there a formula that determines our lives or do we have matters in our own hands?
The title song, for instance, deals with how people are forced to adapt to entirely new circumstances of living after disastrous strokes of fate hit. Be it coming to terms with the inhumane brutality of the Norwegian Breivik-killing spree, the anger that followed the nuclear disaster of Fukushima or coping with the very personal grief after the untimely death of a close relative. In their compositions Crystal Palace artfully merges these emotions with musical virtuosity and thus creates songs that touch music lovers -- even beyond the borders of the art rock genre.
On "The System of Events", once again, Crystal Palace is evocative of legendary role models like Marillion, Dream Theater or Genesis. And yet, the band still goes its very own way because the primary and foremost intent behind the quartet's music is to reach people. From the first second one can not only heard but even feel that "The System of Events" is a real labor of love that has emerged from pure passion. The art rock that these Berliners play keeps morphing into "goose bumps rock".
To accomplish the mammoth task of this ambitious project, Crystal Palace has gathered a squad that makes the heart of every fan race: Yogi Lang of RPWL has assumed responsibility of the sound. He immersed into the music and brilliantly succeeded in underlining the subtle complexity that constitutes the distinctive character of the songs on "The System of Events." Moreover, Crystal Palace summoned international superstar Colin Edwin of Porcupine Tree and has thus managed to get a real heavyweight of the art rock scene onboard. The dream team is ultimately completed by RPWL's guitarist Kalle Wallner, who, in the title song, also contributes to perfect the masterpiece that is this album.
That leaves us with only one more question to ask: is there a formula to our lives or not? Is there such a thing as a "System of Events?" Well, in case there is, "The System of Events" shows: the formula means well towards art rock fans all over the world.