Brian Melloon
This is one of the most amazing discs I have ever heard. Interesting
compositions backed up by incredible playing. This disc is the
crossing of speed-influenced death metal with new-age/Holdsworthesque
jazz. It's about a half-and-half cross, featuring sections of
pure death metal, pure jazz, and just about every variation in
between. This creates a completely unique feeling to the disc,
you will not mistake these guys for anyone else out there...
The technical abilities of all players is phenominal,
and the songs are so rich, that almost a year after getting it,
I'm still hearing new things... Many progressive features
are evident, including polyrhythms and time signature changes.
Not only is the drumming the best I've ever heard in death metal,
the guitarists are both incredible soloists as well. Although
they have radically different styles, both Paul Masvidal and Jason
Gobel create melodic solos which fit right in to the songs. Even
the bass player Shawn Malone gets into the act, with a fretless solo
in "Textures". Production is typical Scotty Burns production,
with buzzsaw guitars that are slightly irritating. At least
everything is clear,
including the bass, which you can actually hear most of the
time, due to the
timbral characteristics of the fretless.
Most of the criticism
of this disc centers around the vocals. Keeping with the idea
of the disc, the vocals are split half-and-half between death
shouts/grunts (not belches, tho) and ethereal synth-aided vocals.
The death vocals are adequate, but the synth vocals occasionally bring the
disc down, such as in the intro to "Uroboric Forms". They work
best IMO when they alternate with the death vocals, such as in
"I'm But A Wave To", and "How Could I". Other than that, the
only other problem I have is that the bass tone is not as full
as I would have liked. It just sounds a little weak, and
doesn't mesh with the rest of the music.
Overall: 9.75
Favorite Track: How Could I
From ONR.com's Progressive Metal List
This is hands down the best death metal that I've ever heard. Rather than
traditional cookie
monster vocals, the vocals are processed in an industrial fashion to be
about half brutal
and half melodic. The band shows a strong jazz influence.
Focus - This CD is about music and the band uses death metal as the vehicle to display its tremendous effort. The complexity and execution of this disc are are very good. The powerful guitar work has a massive synth backing and is supported by tremendous bass work and percussion. This disc has appeal far outside of death metal.
Impaler's Review
amazing jazz newage death metal. wildly imaginative musicianship, vocals varying from death vocals to synth to female, extremely original amazing stuff. if you want something that sounds new, try this. hard to describe. fusiony death metal. spiritual/philisophical lyrics. the next album should be a real monster
