review by: Tom Orgad
Every person considering himself dedicated to the Nihilistic view of the world must remain aware of a certain hazard luring him amidst the shades of his own ideology: while zealously practicing his own method of collective negation and devaluation, ruthlessly depriving each tangible guiding notion, idea or concept of any objective, non-opportunistic value, one may distractedly reach the stagnant state of being nothing more than a representative of yet another static and blasphemously prejudiced philosophy. By learning to experience the joy of his own disparagement, the cheerfulness of his own cynicism, the all-negating devout just might find himself in a position similar to this of every dependant, mindless religious follower.
Therefore, I warmly recommend every contemplating extremist of the pessimistic, post-modern schools to maintain his alert search for positive value, thus incessantly challenging his own ideology; even if its failure is probably predetermined, than merely for the sake of a dynamic, self-referring, assuring constant redefinition of his own beliefs. For that purpose, on the musical aspect, Close to the Edge, the classic progressive rock album by the mythological band Yes, will surely provide an interesting lever of re-evaluation for every extreme metal fan whatsoever.
UK band Yes was one of the pioneers of the late 60's-early 70's progressive rock movement, mostly characterized by intermingling within the popular music context varying conceptual and epic elements (usually featuring notable influences of classical music). In my opinion, their aforementioned fifth album stands as the peak of the genre's creation, featuring an assembly of masterful musicians on a level nearly unprecedented in popular music, performing three ripe, magnificent pieces of emanating, heavenly inspired creativity. However, I would like to refer the underground extremist reader to one specific composition: the grandiose, 20-minute title track.
"Close To The Edge" describes the journey of a spiritual search for wholesome individual completeness. By applying a classical compositional approach, Yes takes the listener on an aesthetically-versatile trip within the realms of his own consciousness, confronting him with chaotic dissonant eruptions contradicted by divine, traditionally-harmonized melodies, sequentially bombarding him with images of aggressive struggle of instrumental entities, eventually being resolved by the utopia of enrapturing symbiosis. All of the above are intertwined and imbedded with brilliantly arranged and placed recurring musical motives, subtly and varyingly appearing and vanishing, giving the listener a clear sense of gradual development, leading him up the emotional scales towards the overwhelming climax.
Thus, By depicting an image of such a dynamic, unregretful flowing stream of events, yet still being ever infused with constant repeating revelations of positive essence, Yes fulfill the vision of the inspirational German author Herman Hesse: they offer a view of a world in which in spite of the inconsistency, uncertainty, subjectivity and unbearable lightness of nullification, one still, when adjusting his mind properly to the required state, may note the optimistic, reassuring odour of eternity within each of his deeds. Be it a loving embrace, a determined strife, a peaceful interlude or an enrapturing explosion, each action or its resulting state of mind are imparted with the inner core of infinity, its eternal droplets percolating, reaching us past the tragic, delusive filter of the excruciating everyday routine existence. All that one has to do in order to reach the legendary state of ultimate wholesomeness is to realize this notion and acknowledge it.
Surely, this view is very easy to contradict on the intellectual level, not having to use too much of complex arguments: like every other approach, this one is subjective and unstable, can by no means be proven, and may be easily ignored and negated. However, as Yes have managed to implement this singular view in a manner awesomely nearing perfection, I offer each of you to observe it, absorb it, consider it; If not in order to accept it and revive your faith in a positive cosmic existence, than simply to strengthen you in your own opposite stand while beholding an exquisite form of musical expression.
