CrossFade: The Dueling Album Review Show · MinnMax

Give to the Max 2023: Ne Obliviscaris's "Portal Of I"

·1 hr 49 min·5 clips

How a violin in a metal band turns aggressive riffs into heartbreaking, somber melodies.

This episode of CrossFade reunites hosts Matt Helgeson and Jason Daphnis to review the 2012 album "Portal Of I" by Australian progressive metal band Ne Obliviscaris. The episode was funded by a community member's charity donation during the MinMax network's Give to the Max 2023 drive. Matt and Jason discuss the album's dense, technical compositions and its significance to the donor, Chris Fader. Chris Fader discovered Ne Obliviscaris as an opening act for Wintersun at Minneapolis's Skyway Theater in 2018 and was immediately captivated. The album "Portal Of I" was used in a 2013 music theory course at the University of Sydney's Conservatory of Music as an example of structure and virtuosity. The band features two vocalists, one clean and one using guttural screams, with the clean vocalist also playing electric violin. Matt and Jason note the album's length of over 71 minutes and its blend of black metal intensity with melodic, almost folk-inspired sections. They highlight the track "And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope," which was the subject of the academic analysis. A surprising insight is that the band funded their first major international tour through crowdfunding and now supports itself via a Patreon with hundreds of subscribers. The hosts were impressed by live videos confirming the band can perform their intensely technical music authentically on stage. Jason observes that the lyrics, written by the harsh vocalist, are evocative and poetic but often become a textural element rather than a narrative focus due to the vocal delivery. Matt appreciates how the production clearly separates each instrument, allowing intricate bass lines and violin melodies to shine within the complex mix. The conversation reveals the album's constant shifts between aggressive metal and serene, acoustic passages, which Matt's daughter humorously described as the band arguing over what kind of music to play. The violin work is a standout, adding a unique dimension compared to typical metal and sometimes evoking a "Romani" or campfire folk feel. The hosts note the band's apparent influences might range from classic progressive acts like Genesis and Rush to 80s metal like Judas Priest. The tone is conversational and nostalgic, marked by the hosts' easy chemistry and shared enthusiasm for niche music scenes. They adopt an educational yet accessible approach, breaking down musical techniques while relating the album to broader topics like charity fundraising and the changing live music landscape. The style includes humorous tangents, such as discussing Peter Gabriel's recent tour and schemes to exploit Spotify's royalty system. Listeners who enjoy deep dives into progressive, technical metal or are curious about how niche bands build sustainable careers will love this episode. Fans of the MinMax community and its charitable initiatives will also appreciate the backstory. Those who dislike long-form music analysis or have no tolerance for harsh, screamed vocals might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A warm reunion anchored by a focused, musically attentive discussion.

Crossfade comes back with the easy chemistry of two hosts picking up after time apart, laughing through the reunion before settling into a careful, curious talk about the track.

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Why you'd press play

You want two hosts getting back in sync while taking apart one track with violin, groove, and a late breakdown.

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