Drowning Pegasus - The Water’s Rising

Drowning Pegasus

The Water’s Rising
self-released; 2014

3.5 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Rhi Evans started the UK-based project Drowning Pegasus in early 2014 and just recently released a four-song EP entitled The Water’s Rising. The music is a mix of electronica to mainstream metal and a couple of genres in between. It’s actually easier to reference a band in this case. Drowning Pegasus has moments that have similarities to Evanescence but also to bands like Portishead, Bjork and even Nine Inch Nails. The finest moments are the ones that veer away from the hard rocking guitar driven mainstream appeal and instead focus on the nuances of the songs.

The first song “The Lake” is the clear-cut example of the two prominent styles that Drowning Pegasus draws from. I was immediately drawn to the dark electronic elements that the song opens up with. The music reminded me of the programing that you may of heard from Bjork back in her Homogenic days while Evan’s vocals sound similar to Beth Gibbons from Portishead.

Once the chorus hits it has an uncanny similarity to Evanescence. The soaring chorus is effective but feels a bit too familiar at points. The highlight of the EP was “The Bird,” which contained some of the most innovative programming. There were points in the song that I couldn’t help but think of Trent Reznor when the industrial beat, synths and whispering background vocals enter into the mix. The song is the most electronically based but also felt the most natural and original.

“Saving Grace” and the bonus track “Real Again” have the most commercially viable song out of the four. The song sits comfortably in the hard rock category and even contains Linken Park type male background vocals.

Drowning Pegasus may have thinking to do in terms of where she wants to go with her music. The hard rocking alternative epic rock she plays will most likely attract a different audience than those who enjoy the electronic aspects of her music. The world already has a copious amount of bands that sound like Evanescence but not quite as many that sound like a combination of Bjork and Portishead. Food for thought. That being said the songs are all well written and showcase a good amount of potential. 

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