Octavision – ‘Coexist’ (2020) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

Jeff Scott Soto has played with some incredible musicians throughout his career, and this album sees some players that are beyond description. Octavision is the brainchild of Armenian guitar virtuoso, Hovak Alaverdyan, who wanted to put together music with Middle Eastern and Armenian folk musical sounds and styles into a heavy metal, progressive rock sound. I would say he achieved his goal with the release of ‘Co-Exist’. The album came out on December 29, 2020 in the States and in Japan was released on March 24, 2021 which is the copy I have complete with the precious OBI Strip.

How was Hovak able to create such a worldly sounding record? It was the amazing musicians he surrounded himself. And it is an impressive list to say the least. He had not one, but two bassists including Victor Wooten who is a master-class Jazz/Fusion bassist who has played with the likes of Bela Fleck and then rock & roll bassists extraordinaire, Billy Sheehan who has played with Jeff in Sons of Apollo along with Mr. Big and David Lee Roth. On keyboards, he brought in Murzo (aka…Ara Torosyan) who is an Armenian born cinematic music arranger.

Those guys are great, but he needed people to help capture that particular sound he was looking to achieve. For that, he brought in Avo Margaryan on the blul (which is an open-ended shepherd’s flute if you didn’t know…I didn’t) and Artyom Manukyan on cello. Not pictured in the album sleeve is another musician to help with the sound and that was Anahit Artushyan on kanun (I know what you are thinking..what is kanun…it is a horizontal harp, similar to a zither or dulcimer, I’m sure that helped a lot). And lastly, we need a drummer. For that task, he recruited Czechian, Roman Lomtadze, who is more than up for the task of beating the skins to make sure the rock & roll part of this band shined through.

I haven’t mentioned what Jeff does yet. Jeff, obviously, is on vocals. However, out of the 7 tracks, only 2 have vocals. So like his work with Yngwie, Jeff is here to add flavor to the music and although he isn’t on all the tracks, he is the only singer which is why I included this in the review series. If ‘Rising Force’ can be included, so can this one. And when you hear it, you will thank me for it as well.

The album starts out like a force of nature with “Mindwar”. The heavy, massive riffs, the choir like backing vocals and the gut-wrenching drum beats start out a 7 minute instrumental masterpiece that delivers on all ends. The guitars are most prominent and riveting part of the whole song. I love the textures added with the keyboards and the blul is front and center…the song is all the better for it. The back and forth with the riffs and virtuoso moments on guitar and the blul make for a very entertaining experience. The keyboards also get a solo break and you can barely keep up with all the great moments going on. It envelopes you, engages you and entertains you. You couldn’t ask for more perfect opening track to let you know what you are in store for this album.

“Coexist” is up next with a little guitar picking along with a somber sounding bass and melancholic drums and then some sickening riffs. We get Jeff on vocals for this go round and he is as dark and moody as the music. He also wrote the lyrics to this incredibly bleak song. The song appears to be about all the differences we have and how it is tearing us apart. How the demons are tearing us down, and probably means the governments. We need to learn to co-exist together or we won’t survive. The keyboard runs and guitar riffs are magical together and some of my favorite moments of the song. The dark angel sounding choir is such a dramatic touch to the song. Jeff matches the music and his delivery will make you feel the lyrics to your depth. This is a riveting track that will engross your mind.

With an Oriental-styled drum sound to open “Proctagon”, you immediately stop and take notice. What is about to happen? Then a drum barrage matching the dirty riffs explode the song. The tempo picks up and it is off the races. More back and forth between the guitar and keyboards and the prog elements are so satisfying. It will take your breath away. I’ve never listened to much prog as I never thought it was my thing…well…so far…this is my thing!

Soto is back on vocals with “Apocalyptus”. His lyrics on this one are as depressing and dark as the other track. The world has become hell and terrorizing us all. You feel as dark as the days surrounding you. A bleak picture of our world, but not far from the truth. Musically, with such dark themes, the music needs to match and it does. It is bleak and empty as your soul. Jeff’s vocals have an echo effect during the verses and then the chorus hits and his vocal power increases and they soar through the dark, barren sky of this demented world. About 4 minutes in, the song takes a turn and becomes an instrumental piece that is a showcase for everyone involved. It is at times pure metal, but with the changes it is also pure prog. A nice mixture of both elements. The demonic backing choir vocals are back and scary as hell. Another stellar moment that showcases Jeff and the whole band. Hovak’s guitar playing is so frighteningly amazing. What a complete talent this man is. Jeff does return bookend this musical masterpiece.

“Three Lives” opens with an incredible keyboard riff and guitar riff that is speeding at you at a 100mph, you are mind blown by the dexterity. The back and forth is what makes this song really fly. Racing along, accelerating to top speeds one minute and decelerating the next that lets you catch your breath. I love how everyone gets a moment whether it is the bass, the keyboards, the guitar, the drums or even the blul. It is a song that you will get lost in the journey, mesmerized by what you hear. This is talent.

“Stormbringer” is almost dreamlike in its sound. The beautiful harp giving it an orchestrated feel leaves you relaxed and light as a feather. You feel like you are floating through the atmosphere. Then when the song kicks in it is more progressive metal, but this one is a lot slower and softer from what we have heard so far. As the song transpires, the anticipation seems to be building to a big payoff and that payoff is a wildly brilliant guitar solo.

The final track is “So It Begins” and it begins with some incredible drumming and keyboards. The heaviness returns with this one. Get ready to be pummeled with more masterclass level musicianship. I love that the bass gets some slapping pretty hard, the keys get their ivory tickled, the guitar gets it strings stroked and the blul gets blown. Wait…what did I say. My mind went to a dirty place for a second. You get what I’m trying to say. The album goes out with more pure genius playing as it started. At only 7 songs, it is too short even if each song was like 7-9 minutes long.

Track Listing:

1. Mindwar – Keeper
2. Coexist – Keeper
3. Proctagon – Keeper
4. Apocalyptus – Keeper
5. Three Lives – Keeper
6. Stormbringer – Keeper
7. So It Begins – Keeper

The Track Score is 7 out of 7 or 100%. This is one of those albums that gets better with every listen. There is so much going on you find something new you focus on every time you listen.  Jeff is the right choice for vocals for this music as he showed he was with Sons of Apollo. The complicated musical pieces need a powerhouse vocalist. And he delivered. Hovak is a man I had not heard of prior to this album, but what a songwriter and musical visionary. These pieces are so complicated and so riveting.  I might not have found this until 5 years after its release, but I am so glad I finally did.  This is one of those albums, even if Jeff wasn’t on it, we still need it.  But thankfully, Jeff is on it!  My Overall Score is a 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars.  This is that good…for me at least.

THE JEFF SCOTT SOTO SERIES:

1. Panther – ‘Panther’ (1986) – recorded in 1984
2. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Rising Force’ (1984)
3. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Marching Out’ (1985)
4. Kuni – ‘Lookin’ For Action’ (1988)
5. Kryst the Conqueror – ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ (1989) / ‘Soldiers of Light: The Complete Recordings (2019)
6. Eyes – ‘Eyes’ (1990)
7. Eyes – “Nobody Said It Was Easy” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
8. Talisman – ‘Talisman’ (1990)
9. Talisman – “I’ll Be Waiting” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
10. Skrapp Mettle – ‘Sensitive’ (1991)
11. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Eternal Prisoner’ (1992)
12. Bakteria – ‘Deficate! Suffocate! Mutilate! Masturbate!’ (1992 / 2009)
13. Eyes – ‘Windows of the Soul’ (1993)
14. Talisman – ‘Genesis’ (1993)
15. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘The Ballads’ (1993)
16. Biker Mice From Mars – ‘Biker Mice From Mars (Soundtrack)’ (1993)
17. Takara – ‘Eternal Faith’ (1993)
18. Talisman – ‘5 Out Of 5 (Live in Japan)’ (1994)
19. Talisman – ‘Humanimal’ (1994)
20. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Between the Walls’ (1994)
21. Gary Schutt – ‘Sentimetal’ (1994)
22. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Love Parade’ (1994)
23. Eyes – ‘November Mass / Full Moon’ (1994)
24. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Made in Germany (Live)’ (1995)
25. Takara – ‘Taste of Heaven’ (1995)
26. Talisman – ‘Life’ (1995)
27. Jeff Scott Soto, Gary Schutt, Michael Voss, Neal Grusky – ’24th of June: Alive ‘N Kissing’ (1995)
28. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Black Moon Pyramid’ (1996)
29. Human Clay – ‘Human Clay’ (1996)
30. Talisman – ‘Best of’ (1996)
31. Talisman – ‘Besterious’ (1996)
32. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Magic’ (1997)
33. Human Clay – ‘U4IA’ (1997)
34. Boogie Knights – ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’ (1997)
35. Takara – ‘Blind in Paradise’ (1998)
36. Talisman – ‘Truth’ (1998)
37. Takara – ‘Eternity: The Best of 93-98’ (1998)
38. ‘Rock Star: Music from the Motion Picture (Soundtrack)’ – Various Artists (2001)
39. Humanimal – ‘Humanimal’ (2002)
40. Humanimal – Find My Way Home: Limited Edition E.P. (2002)
41. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Holding On E.P.’ (2002)
42. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Prism’ (2002)
43. Talisman – ‘Live at Sweden Rock Festival’ (2002)
44. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘JSS Live at the Gods 2002’ (2003)
45. Talisman – ‘Cats & Dogs’ (2003)
46. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Believe in Me E.P.’ (2004
47. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Lost in the Translation’ (2004)
48. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at the Queen Convention 2003’ (2004)
49. Soul SirkUS – ‘World Play’ (2004/2005)
50. Talisman – ‘Five Men Live’ (2005)
51. Talisman – ‘World’s Best Kept Secret DVD (2005)
52. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Essential Ballads’ (2006)
53. Journey – ‘Live from Atlanta (Bootleg)’ (2006)
54. Talisman – ‘7’ (2006)
55. Talisman – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
56. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘B-Sides’ (2006)
57. Redlist – ‘Ignorance’ (2007)
58. Jeff Scott Soto – LA Rocks Demo / Vinnie Vincent Demo 1988 (2008)
59. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Beautiful Mess’ (2009)
60. Jeff Scott Soto – “21st Century” / “Gin & Tonic Sky” CD Single (2009) – Bonus Edition
61. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘One Night in Madrid’ (2009)
62. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ‘Night Castle’ (2009)
63. W.E.T. – ‘W.E.T.’ (2009)
64. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at Firefest 2008’ (2010)
65. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Damage Control’ (2012)
66. W.E.T. – ‘Rise Up’ (2013)
67. W.E.T. – ‘One Live in Stockholm’ (2014)
68. Jeff Scott Soto – The Authorized Biography (2014)
69. SOTO – ‘Inside the Vertigo’ (2015)
70. Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – Dying to Live (2015)
71. SOTO – ‘Divak’ (2016)
72. Sons of Apollo – ‘Psychotic Symphony’ (2017)
73. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Retribution’ (2017)
74. W.E.T. – ‘Earthrage’ (2018)
75. SOTO – ‘Origami’ (2019)
76. Sons of Apollo – ‘Live With the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ (2019)
77. Sons of Apollo – ‘MMXX’ (2020)
78. Talisman – “Never Die (A Song For Marcel)” – 7″ Single (2020)
79. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live and Loud in Milan 2019’ (2020)
80. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’ (2020)
81. SOTO – ‘Revision’ (2020)
82. Octavision – ‘Coexist’ (2020)
83. W.E.T. – ‘Retransmission’ (2021)
84. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘The Duets Collection, Vol. 1’ (2021)
85. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Complicated’ (2022)
86. Jeff Scott Soto – The Solo Albums Ranked Worst to First
87. Ellefson-Soto – ‘Vacation in the Underworld’ (2022)
88. Slam – Slam (2023)
89. Art of Anarchy – ‘Let There Be Anarchy’ (2024)
90. D’Luna – ‘Monster’ (2024)
91. W.E.T. – ‘Apex’ (2025)
92. Ellefson-Soto – ‘Unbreakable’ (2025)
93. Jeff Scott Soto – ALL THE ALBUMS Ranked Worst to First
94. Jeff Scott Soto / Jason Bieler – Live In Concert (2022) – Bonus Edition
95. Jeff Scotto Soto / Jason Bieler – Live in Concert (2023) – Bonus Edition