Make Me a Donut-Olson

I was only recently introduced to the magic of Make Me a Donut and I haven't been able to escape the progressive metal triumph that is represented in the music of this Swiss quintet. Although they occasionally buy into the silly metalcore/djent trend the overall delivery of their new record, Olson, is exciting and heavy hitting. From the first you know that these guys, despite everything else, definitely know how to play their instruments and write a solid metal tune. As they drive ahead and find their own sound it seems like Make Me a Donut will be capable of some great things.

The crashing attack of Olson might on first listen seem hectic and frightening. But once you start to get into the record you realize that this band bring so much more to the table. There are guitar lines that are simply to die for, their attack is distinct and powerful. Not a lot of bands have the sheer technical ability that Make Me a Donut showcase, be it in their through composed songs, utterly abstract rhythms or simply insane solos if you dig technical music then Make Me a Donut is going to appeal to you. This is not the kind of band who are easily forgotten, no, their technical gifts stay with the listener, forcing you to go back, time, after time, after time.

In closing, sure there are some weird mainstream metal moments, but they are drowned out in the waves of progressive rhythms, bizarre song structures, and an attack that demonstrates all that is good, right and salutary in the world of metal today. A record that stands out for its precision and power I'm excited to see if these guys can pull off their material in a live context at Paris Goes Prog fest in March. As for now, let's just say that these eight tracks represent a band who could very well be the next Periphery, or even bigger. As long as they continue to deliver a refined sound and emphasize heaviness metal nerds across the globe should fall in love with Olson.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/makemeadonut?ref=ts&fref=ts

Dead Like Swansea-Fragile Man

Metalcore tinged djent fronted by two screaming men. God, this is a good day to be listening to metal. Dead Like Swansea hail from a dying town in Arizona, a town where things haven't been looking up in years. So they rise, with a djent inflected sound that is heavy, passionate, and able to capture your soul. Djent destruction in its purest form Dead Like Swansea have the rage and their new record Fragile Man is a powerful debut, showcasing a band who with a little bit more polish could go on to help front this rapidly rising new wave of djentcore.

The thing is, these guys play their own unique brand of metal with a ferocity born of desperation. There is a very real rage here and it is only compounded by having two vocalists. The thing is, these guys know how to play off each other, how to create music that reflects their hearts and souls. Meanwhile, the guitar riffing is very tight and gives a strong forward motion to everything. One issue I have though is that Dead Like Swansea are often not as heavy as they should be and it leaves the sound a bit thin. Yet as a whole, the songs on this record flow together in an elegant way and are easy to fall in love with. They left me begging for more!

In conclusion, Dead Like Swansea have done something special with their new release. Fragile Man understands the meaning of djent, yet brings so much more to the table. It suggests an exciting future for these Arizona purveyors of prog perfection. In short, if you want a band who understand the spirit of their genre and want to bring it forward with an incredible violence and power then Dead Like Swansea is the band for you. Though they could get a thicker sound their attack is vicious and undying. I foresee big things happening for these young men who just refuse to give up!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/deadlikeswansea?fref=ts

Avelion-Liquid Breathing

Oh my, here is a band who seem to overcome genre boundaries with their new EP Liquid Breathing a record that represents all of the cool stuff happening in modern progressive metal. Yet, these guys are not strictly progressive metal, there are bits of melodeath and mainstream metal in here too. Again, Avelion is one of those bands who apparently live outside of a genre box, unwilling to be confined by norms that many feel are seriously impacting the metal scene these days. In that way Liquid Breathing is a refreshing blast, showing the potential that metal has to move forward.

One of the things I really like about this album is the power of the vocal delivery, while there are a few growls the majority of the singing is clean, and this guy can really belt it. The way he crushes the vocal lines on songs like Liquid Breath is very impressive. He does a great job of finding the pocket rhythms in tracks like the djenty Ain't no Down with his words falling in just the right moments. Personally, I would like to see more of the djent side of the band as thats the bit that really gets me going. Yet as is Avelions unique blend of genres (Admittedly with a djent base) is really cool to listen to and makes certain that Liquid Breathing is filled with musical twists and turns.

In conclusion, my one big complaint about Liquid Breathing is that its only 12 minutes long. I genuinely believe that a lot of these ideas need more development and any full length from Avelion should be impressive indeed. The whole of this album is very polished and pure, reflecting a group of young djentlemen who are searching to create something more, a new brand of prog that is not held back by the common limitations of the djent genre. Maybe this is the future of Meshuggah's music, maybe this will push the scene to a new level, I for one certainly hope so.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/AvelionMusic.Official

Stream of Out For Bloods track Self Inflicted Damnation!

So I have a surprise for you guys today! A stream of a track from technical deathcore lords Out For Blood! A fiery and explosive song, I hope you guys like it as much I do!
 

Syqem, TesseracT, Periphery

So tonight I had the honor of going out and hanging out with three of my favorite bands, Syqem (with whom I have an interview to share with you guys), TesseracT and Periphery. Together they provided a memorable first date to what promises to be one of the greatest tours of the year. I was blessed by Dio himself when I caught them tonight in Paris at the Nouveau Casino, a venue to which I had never been before. Suffice to say I was impressed by the quality of the sound and liked the setup. It was definitely an enjoyable place to see a show and I got to spend the vast majority of it just a foot away from Misha Manshoor himself!

The first band on the night was Syqem who took the stage minutes after I interviewed them. They played a tight set however they were held back a bit by technical issues. Still, they proved their worth as a live band and I'd love to go see them again in the future. In particular, their live rendition of the track Rewind really struck me. It was tasty and provided a bit more flavor than the album mix. They truly proved themselves to be skilled and professional musicians who are fully capable of embarking on a tour of this magnitude. Overall, their tightly polished sound and pummeling 8 string guitar riffs were very tasty and really set the mood for the djent madness that was to come.

Next up was TesseracT, a band who I like but don't love. Until tonight at least. They played an absolutely transcendent set that seperated the soul from the body and took the listener on an epic journey. Their soundscapes were beautiful and it just blew me away that a band could create something of such majesty in a live setting. I would see them again in a heartbeat, they just had so much to offer. I could have literally listened to them play for another 6 hours and still would have been very much content with my lot. They definitely set a high standard for Periphery to match.

And of course Periphery blew right past the standard set by TesseracT. With an absolutely destructive hour long set culminating in a full on rendition of Racecar I threw my back out headbanging to their strange time signatures and crazed riffs. I completely eschewed the pit in favor of appreciating the musicians skill and I'm glad I did. I loved the solos and was blown away by Misha's technical ability. It was an honor to stand close enough to touch his guitars and watch his genius at work on the fretboard. The rest of the band was equally tight, they gave the songs a new meaning for me and took my love of their music to a whole new level. Suffice to say, I'm going to be listening to a whole lot of Periphery in the next few weeks!

In conclusion, tonight was an evening to remember for me and four hundred other djentlemen (and djentlewomen). It showed some magnificent bands who are really pushing metal to a whole new level. After three sets I went home very content, glad that I had seen some of the most cutting edge bands on the modern scene. The passion they show live suggests to me that the djent movement and its related prog subgenres will never die, but instead grow stronger and become a veritable force in popular music. If you have a chance to see these guys on their current European tour you must do it! They are all wonderfully tight, and they will only get better as the tour goes on!

Valkaria

Valkaria is an up and coming metalcore band from Melbourne Florida who flaunt a djent influence. With a tightly polished and refined sound these guys still have room to grow. There playing is definitely tight and they find an interesting fusion between the sound of Born of Osiris and August Burns Red. Yet it seems to me that there strongest stuff is their djentiest. While I'm not saying they should completely leave behind their metalcore roots, this band seems like they could be so much greater than they are simply by fully embracing their djenty side. As is, this is an act filled with promise and I think they are doing an excellent job of finding a fusion of more mainstream metalcore with djentier music. Their song Solace showcases the promise they have. Something that could potentially appeal to hardcore kids and prog snobs alike I am excited to see how Valkaria will end up developing their sound in the next few months!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/ValkariaFL/app_178091127385?ref=ts

Plagues of the Armada

Plagues of the Armada is an interesting djentcore band with a sound that is hard to get into, yet extremely rewarding once you accept it into your heart. With cathartic solos and epic sweeping passages this is a band who will sweep you off your feet and 'dazzle you with djent'. Their music is shockingly heavy and uses strange rhythms and melodies that seem specifically made to make the listener uncomfortable. Their is a great deathcore and even groove metal influence here too, it gives the music a bit of a more accessible vibe and tempers the super technical elements of the groups sound. Also important to note is the bands motto "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who believe they are free" which asides from being pretty much true, dictates the overall philosophy of the lyrics. With lines like "An Omnipotent being with celestial like ascendancy, the deceiver keeping mankind in a veil of obfuscation continuing to propagate the conception that it is our pro-creator" you get a feel for the hyper intelligent lines that permeate this bands music. A stellar act who seem ready to make it to the stars I can't wait to see what they produce next!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/plaguesofthearmada/app_204974879526524

Wings Denied-Awake

With the general decline of djent in recent months it has become increasingly difficult to find interesting djent with predominantly clean vocals. Fortunately Wings Denied are here for you with their EP Awake. A wonderful progressive metal record with tons of djenty rhythm and shockingly heavy breakdowns Awake is a testament to the enduring power that the djent genre can and should have. These three tracks are beautifully profound and clearly have reached into the souls of the performers. Yes, Wings Denied create djent with a heart.

Their is an interesting fusion of melodeath with djent on many of these tracks. Asides from the distinctly progressive nature ofthe band, the melodeath side of the sound adds a nice aggression and a bit of melody to Wings Denied's rhythmic mastery. I also love the bands longer tracks like Vultures where the songwriting prowess of the musicians is truly given a chance to shine. A seven and a half minute epic, I wish this EP had more tracks like that one. It simply carries a beautiful forward motion and shows the raw potential this band has as a heavy prog act.

To finish, the 19 or so minutes of metal on this EP are stellar and show a promising band at the beginning of a career that will hopefully see them go far. Filled with heavy and djenty riffs along with some fantastic solos and melodic death metal tinged guitar attacks Awake showcases Wings Denied's sound. A great fusing of djent with predominantly clean vocals Awake should fascinate any fan of prog and make them beg for more. A product of great songwriting and intelligent lyrics this is an EP that any trve djentleman should check out and something that many a metalhead would probably appreciate!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/WingsDenied

Dimensions

Dimensions is a destructive deathcore band with a sound that is heavily influenced by technical death metal and proggier deathcore. The end result is a devastating sound filled with incredible riffs and flashy solos. With an overarching power that few bands can truly capture these days Dimensions is held in check by an incredible tightness that never seems to fall them. Songs like Failure is not an Option show how well this band executes complex rhythm figures. While not exactly djenty the influence of bands like Born of Osiris and Veil of Maya is fairly clear in the heavy breakdowns and occasionally atmospheric nature of the sound. Dimensions take djentcore to a whole new level, infusing it with a true death metal rage, allowing the band to shine as they explode heads and execute impressively heavy breakdowns. In sum, this Texas quintet are clearly quite talented musicians who seem to be ready to start making big waves in the modern deathcore scene.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dimensions-TX/427833830617632?id=427833830617632&sk=app_2405167945

Deathember-Going Postal

A lot of modern bands are jumping on the djent wave. Their sounds are becoming very polished and in many cases downright bland. Few bands seek to rip the genre apart and go for the juggular with distorted rhythms and extremely grating vocals. Deathembers custom sound is the result of a fusion of the music of Sikth with some groovier acts like Gojira or SYL, all while maintaining the technicality that is the trademark of all of those bands. The Meshuggah inspired sound found on Going Postal shows this group to be more than imitators but true heavy metal innovators.

The most notable part about this record is the layered guitar work. While one guitar carries out the standard percussive Meshuggah like riffing their is frequently soloing going on underneath the vocal lines. This idea helps to add a layer of abstract melody to the pieces and keeps the music slightly grounded and a bit easier to grasp than most Sikth tracks. In brief, the strange and destructive power of riffs on songs like Let us Flip show off the musical might of the band while simultaneously introducing interesting melodies that are not often found in this style of progressive music. Another example of this group annihilating boudnaries can be found on the track The Deprivation which starts off with a standard prog intro before going into heavier metal madness.

In conclusion, Going Postal is a prog masterpiece. It shows a Swedish band who are ready to join the ranks of the prog gods. They certainly have enough technical skill and songwriting ability to dominate. The truly notable thing though is that Deathember has managed to sound like an evolved form of bands like Sikth and Meshuggah. They have taken that trademark sound to a new level and it's not very djenty at all. Going Postal is a 10 song slab of prog perfection and I can not wait to see where Deathember take their wonderful sound next.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Deathemberband

Out for Blood-All Hail Cthulu

Thus far 2013 has not seen a lot great technical deathcore and djentcore releases. Yet now Out For Blood have a monster of an EP to give you. Their record All Hail Cthulhu is a slab of ear annihilating deathcore tempered with some wonderfully technical solos and tons of twisted rhythms. The end result is a devastating half hour of H.P. Lovecraft inspired metal that will rip your face off and prove that Out for Blood are one of the most promising bands to be coming out of the San Francisco scene right now. With stellar production and great songwriting, its hard to find something not to like about All Hail Cthulhu.

I love the hard moshing quality of a lot of these songs. This fused with their raw technical proficiency gives the band a Revocation like aura on some tracks. Yet Out For Blood are clearly distinctly different, their implementation of djenty rhythms helps to add a little bit of flavor to their pieces. Meanwhile, some songs have a simple go for the throat death metal aggression, one example of this is their circle pitting track "Exhale" which features an insane riff and a sweeptastic solo. In brief, the swirling and hypnotic power found on All Hail Cthulhu is not something that any metalhead is going to forget for a long while.

In sum, All Hail Cthulhu is a truly brutal EP that shows a way forward for deathcore. Non-formulaic and a clear testament to the skill of the musicians involved the music of Out for Blood is memorable and moshable. Already having toured with big names like Carnifex and Suffokate the future seems bright for these metallers from California. With a killer debut and a lot of promise Out for Blood seem like they could be the next big thing. Definitely worth the 7 dollars it costs to download off Bandcamp All Hail Cthulhu is worth many a listen!

Go listen to Out for Blood on Bandcamp

http://outforblood415.bandcamp.com/

Now, Voyager-Seas

Now, Voyager is a tasty mathcore band with some sick riffs and lots of abstract rhythms. Teir new EP Seas is a testament to how great the genre could be. Filled with manic hardcore vocals and djenty riffs that still capture that raw hardcore anger Seas is a mathcore record for the mathcore nerd. The powerful sounds captured on this record embody the genre and show off how great it truly can be. Lyrics like "I've never seen so much misery./We may fight for our own freedoms But our fates are all tied." abound, and in many ways they capture the magic of the album. I really like the song structures especially on the longer pieces like Foundations or Tabula Rasa. They show a vast knowledge of music theory that really comes in to give their pieces lots of flavor and soar beyond that of many mathcore pretenders. In conclusion, this very tasty offering from Now, Voyager leaves me wanting more. 

Check it out on Bandcamp!
http://wearenowvoyager.bandcamp.com/

Misanthrope

Misanthrope is a djenty thrash metal band whose music distinctly reminds me of the first Meshuggah album. Their sound has a lot of raw energy yet is also very technical. Groovy to a fault Misanthrope will force your head to move with the infinite riffage in store for you here. Fully instrumental, I do feel that the  bands sound would be complimented by having vocals on occasion even if as a whole this is a very solid record. I'm very impressed by the songwriting in and of itself. The structures are interesting and, while some parts could do with a singer, the riffs are surprisingly fresh. I had thought that djent was almost all played out, yet Misanthrope has given me some hope. Instrumental thrash-djent is not something you come upon often yet Misanthrope manages to do it and it is awesome. Riffs to move your body too and beats to bang your head along with Misanthrope is for the true djenter and could very well get their own niche in the scene. Check them out!

https://www.facebook.com/TheMisanthropeUK

Onoma

Onoma is a nifty alternative metal/djent band with powerful riffs and interesting rhythms that are all punctuated by some really stellar lyrics. The guitar sound on their latest release All Things Change is vibrant and powerful. I find it to be filled with a great energy that really gets heads banging and mosh pits going. In the meantime the songwriting is absolutely stellar. I think that the structures of a lot of the pieces are very interesting and really push the djent envelope. The rolling riffs seem to provide a platform for your whole body to move too. The lyrics blow my mind, I love the lines "We're poisoning our brains with knowledge" and "Wouldn't it be great if we don't think" I think their is a lot of stuff to get into here. Overall this is a pretty cool band that is rather different from genre leaders like Periphery and Veil of Maya. Instead they give their own take on the genre and are something I definitely will be coming back to!

https://www.facebook.com/onomaband

My top 10 albums of 2012

  So its that time of year, when we bloggers write all sorts of lists reflecting on what we think are the best releases of the past 365 days. 2012 has been a good year for metal and a lot of interesting stuff has been put out. It's been a challenge but I think I have been able to whittle down all of the great albums from 2012 down into my ten favorites. Now I've probably forgotten something and I may just end up adding it later. But here is my list as is, I hope you guys check it out!

10.Revocation-Teratogenesis

Now, I know this is technically just an EP, but its longer than a lot of thrash and grind 'LP's I could name so I figure it belongs on this list. And anyway, Teratogenesis is just SO GOOD. This EP showed that the band could still succeed after the loss of their founding bassist (who I interviewed a while back) And best of all, its a FREE download from Scion A/V. You need to go check it out!

9.Pallbearer-Sorrow and Extinction

This record is a critic favorite in 2012 and its easy to see why. The epic and powerful sounds that Pallbearer encapsulate on their debut album suggest that this band is going to go far. This is a record that I keep coming back too and will never get bored of. It shows a future for metal now that djent is nearing its end. This is a record that will appeal to many a black metaller, doom metaller, and even just classic metal fans.

8.Pig Destroyer-Book Burner

One of the most anticipated albums of 2012 Pig Destroyer did not fail to deliver. Chock to the brim with memorable riffs and brilliant lyrics this is a grindcore album for the ages. Even if many say that grind is nearing its end Pig Destroyer seem to be the torch carrying the genre forward. I'd also just like to say that this is easily one of my favorite drum performances of the year. Mr. Jarvis does not fail to make this album rhythmically brilliant.

7.Veil of Maya-[id]

For me this is one of the greatest tech-death (And djent) albums of all time. At once technical and moshworthy Veil of Mayas new release is a testament to just how good djent can be. With none of Periphery's silly mainstream metal antics and a bit easier to digest than Meshuggah this is an album that will appeal to many a metalhead. Perfectly executed, punctuated by breakdowns and heavy to the core you NEED to check this record out.

6. Bloodmoon-Orenda

The only unsigned band who made this list Bloodmoon is one of the great hopes for the future of black metal. Their debut album shows a lot of promise, but also a lot of room to grow. Now that they have a bigger budget and a ton of new equipment the shortcomings on this record should be more than made up for in the future. With some truly fantastic lyrics I can not wait to hear the sequel due in 2013!

5. Gypsyhawk-Revelry and Reselience

Pretty much the only “rock” record on my list this album is here for a reason. Filled with the magic of Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest Gypsyhawks brand of gritty and solid hard rock should appeal to just about everyone who is at all interested in heavy music. With touches of death metal influenced classic rock and a ton of guitarmonies this is a very fun album with cool (read: nerdy) lyrics that show a band ready to explode. Buy their album, I desperately need them to come to Europe!

4. Ensiferum-Unsung Heroes

This was my second most anticipated album of the year. While maybe not as good as some previous records (then again Victory Songs is pretty much the best folk metal record of all time) this is still a brilliant achievement for a band so far into their career. Trve vikings to the core Ensiferum has not let go of any of the swords and sorcery magic that made the band so good in the first place. Anyone at all into folk metal should dig this record.

3.Wintersun-Time I

Now THIS is the album I had been waiting years for. Any of my top 3 could very easily be number one, and I probably rated this record a bit lower because in my mind this was just going to be the perfect album. As is, it's not too far off. With the release of Time II coming relatively soon (by Wintersun's standards at least) This is an extremely promising first part. Any and every metalhead should but this record, its symphonic and beautiful yet also brutal and fantastical.

2.Wood of Ypres-Grey Skies and Electric Light

This album came to me from an article I read on Metal Injection back in June. I was completely blown out of the water by this record. With its epic stylings and beautiful songwriting I don't understand how people could not like this album. My favorite aspect of this album is probably the combination of cleans and growls. Other than that, all I have to say is RIP David, you changed lives with your music.

1. Alcest-Les Voyages du L'ame

Before this record came out I was only vaguely familiar with Alcest. Back in January a friend got me to check it out so I did, I didn't think much of it. A few months later while planning a trip to Italy I gave it another spin. I don't think I've ever listened to an album as much in a one week period as I I did in that week in Italy. Since then I have fallen deeply in love with this band and Neige's songwriting. The weird thing is that this is barely even a metal record. More like shoegaze with black metal influences (basically blackgaze) this album takes a few spins to get into, but then you just fall in love with it. This above all the other albums on this list should be checked out by just about everybody!

Matricide

Matricide is an interesting, very Meshuggah influenced hardcore band that must be killer live. On the record their music is pretty solid too. I really like this brand of hardcore that takes a lot of other influences (especially nu-metal) to create something really heavy with a cool groove. In many ways their music is similar to Pantera in that they are all about the riff. This is music you can crush skulls to, but also that you can appreciate the musicianship of. My only concern is that, while there are a lot of guitar breaks there are not a lot of bona fide solos. Even though that isn't really a priority in this type of music I still think it might make things a bit more interesting.  It's important to note that it's this bands cool rhythms that help them to craft memorable songs that you want to pump your fist to. It could be described as a more accessible version of djent. I'd love to get a view of these guys from the pit. Overall these guys are very solid musically and are very moshable. They show a bright future for the Israeli metal scene and I'm looking forward to hearing more from them in the near future. 

https://www.facebook.com/MTRCD/app_2405167945

Be Brave

Be Brave is a sick slightly djenty band that quite clearly takes the influence of bands like Periphery and brings them to a whole new universel making it into their own thing. The musicians are all brilliant. They know how to play their instruments to say the least. Their arrangements are pretty tight too. Often with these types of experimental/post-music bands things get out of hand and only musicians can really appreciate what is going on. But I feel like this band is a bit more accessible than most of the acts on the post-rock scene. In addition their sound is very polished and even though they're doing some pretty funky experimental stuff things remain listenable and I think that's a really important aspect to any band. Overall though this band has a streamlined and tight sound that is easily digestible while at the same time showing off enough technical chops to appeal to your standard issue djentleman elitist. So go check out Be Brave, you will love them!
https://www.facebook.com/BeBravefl/app_178091127385

A Distant Calm

A Distant Calm is a nifty djent band that manages to carve out their own niche in a crowded scene. While clearly their music is very influenced by the likes of Periphery they have their own special hardcore side that allows them to stand out. Their riffs are powerful and feature all of the djenty magic that really helped to make bands like Born of Osiris so huge. I think that the hardcore growling style adds a lot of flavor, meanwhile the clean vocals are normally something I might criticize. Yet in a djent context they work perfectly well. Also, their execution is absolutely spot on so I can't really complain. I will wrap up by simply saying this, with a tight package of high powered riffs and ballistic vocals this band will not disappoint. Go check them out!

Crows Call Murder

 

Crows Call Murder is a fun hardcore band who capture a lot of the punk energy that makes the genre so good. Their sound is vicious and is not afraid to include a bit more of a djent and Veil of Maya-esque sound. The guitar riffs are often complex and feature a lot of weird djenty rhythms. Its cool though to hear this extremely technical music to have so much energy in it. It shows the band truly knows what they're doing. The bass riffs are heavy and really give a nice groove to a lot of the tracks. In particular the song Novella has a nice rhythm that gets your head banging. The drumming is solid and features a lot of technical fills that are often in the vein of bands like Northlane or even Periphery. The drummer gets a huge atmosphere going with his work behind the kit. Finally the vocals are often in darker growls, yet their are also some half shouted half sung cleaner bits that add almost a metalcore touch. While maybe not my cup of tea they DO have their place, so I won't complain to much. In conclusion, Crows Call Murder is a truly excellent metal band that will show you a whole new side of djent.
https://www.facebook.com/crowscallmusic

Promethee

Promethee is an awesome new technical hardcore band. Their music features a lot of really cool progressive elements (not really djent) that somehow blend with the hardcore sound of the riffs. It creates an epic sound that is hard to quite describe but definitely blows my mind. The guitar playing is incredible. Their are riffs upon riffs and all sorts of technical fills that often remind me of bands like The Faceless. The bass playing is ferocious. I particularly like the manic riffing on Sink or Swim, it really adds a lot of energy to the music. The drumming is also rather excellent. In particular the fills on the Veil of Maya like rhythm breakdowns is really tasty. Some of these songs must be almost impossible to play! Finally, the vocals are harsh and feature some unforgiving growls. They really provide a nice icing to a proggy hardcore cake. In conclusion, Promethee is one of the best bands I've had on here in a while and will blow you away. Go check them out!

https://www.facebook.com/prometheemusic