I believe it can honestly be said that genuine artists who do not limit the influence of their creativity are the ones whom we owe our utmost respect to for keeping the momentum of musical accomplishment alive in an otherwise mediocre world. Jimmy P. Brown II, founder, vocalist and guitarist of the veteran thrash metal band Deliverance, is just such an artist. One only need to check out his latest outpouring through the vehicle known as Jupiter VI to fully realize the extent of his talent. No, this is not metal music in the slightest, but displays an equal amount of passion and emotion as any Deliverance album released. Most bands strive to release albums of worthy material every few years or so, but much to the surprise of fans, Jupiter VI have unleashed two praise-worthy installments of unconventional musical modesty.

 

Moveable Walls and the accompanying album, Covered Stars and Undiscovered Planets (mostly a covers album) are two offerings that hold an insurmountable amount of conviction and transcendent spiritual uneasiness. Evolving from the 70's Glam Rock ala Ziggy Stardust sounds of their 2006 debut release Back From Mars, the road taken this time presents only a bit of that element and opts to follow a much more progressive pattern. Those who identify with the sounds of the expected David Bowie vibe will praise these recordings but those who lean towards the Pink Floyd school of thought will absolutely love everything these records have to offer. The band's first album writing credits go solely to brown, however in a bold move he has enlisted the talents of Jeff Ceyba which presents a more diversified feel. Moveable Walls begins with an epic proportion in the nearly twenty-minute long "Sleepless End pt. I-IV," and as the title infers, this is a progressive journey of the senses that encapsulates four distinct movements in one song. There are spacey, droning measures as well as heavier more intensified perspectives. Ultimately this sets the pace for all that will follow. Brown's haunting Bowie-esque  vocals are felt with an emotional tangent that is lost in much of today's musical mediocrity. I especially like the lighter hearted "Face In The Sky" which provides an inspiration of hope in the tonality of his voice.

 

"Wasting Away" is a solid offering that delivers a very melancholic sensitivity, alternating textures of both mellow and harsh elements that resonate in a most blissful symposium.  I completely understand breaking these recordings into two albums as a couple of the tracks on Moveable Walls are rather long. In addition Covered Stars and Undiscovered Planets comes across as distinctly different with an edgier, raw and more up tempo atmosphere as is evidenced by the simply fitting initial cut "Alive and Well." This album is not without surprises and the well represented cover of "Lips Like Sugar" by Echo and the Bunnymen is right at home in this collection of covers. "Temple of Love" (Sisters of Mercy) is another  that works well in the overall scheme of the album but perhaps the most unexpected contribution is a cover of Alanis Morissette's "Thank U" which sounds surprisingly like it could have been written and performed by Bowie. The guitar playing throughout is above and beyond, the vocals are soaring, the writing is superb, truly nothing bad can be said about these accomplishments.

 

-Priest