Atræ Bilis - Aumicide

 

This is absolutely crushing. Atrae Bilis are a frightening and logical extension to the world of progressive death metal. Aumicide is an absolutely punishing release from the band, one with finger breaking riffs, devastating brutality and a sense that Atrae Bilis are starting to touch on a whole new side of death metal chaos. The unrelenting assault that the band brings to the table on Aumicide is addictive and its tempered with some of the most innovative use of effects and progressive songwriting elements that I have heard in a good long while. 

This is a dense record, not an album that will speak to everyone, and in fact not an album that should speak to everyone. One gets a sense as they delve into the world of Aumicide that Atrae Bilis want their work to feel obscure and punishing. They want listeners to get lost in the terror and chaos of what has been done here and allow listeners to indulge in the horror of what has been painted before us. This is death metal done with a vision that few of the bands peers have and it's hard to pull away from the flagrant darkness that Atrae Bilis lay out before us on this album. Aumicide is a sonic firestorm like few others I have recently experienced. 

With all sorts of bizarre digital effects that only add to the layers of cyberpunk wizardry that define the album and a relentless buzzing terror underpinning the music, Aumicide is the sound of the future coming apart. Atrae Bilis have made a significant impression on me with this release and I get the impression that the scene at large is about to turn their heads at this one. Innovative, daring and just a little bit scary, Atrae Bilis is a one of a kind force in the underground. Experience Aumicide and be forever changed.

Pre-order the album! 

https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/aumicide

Temic - Terror Management Theory

Temic is a sort of prog rock supergroup, featuring current and former members of Haken, Mike Portnoy's Shattered Fortress, The Neal Morse Band, Shining and more. Terror Management Theory is their thrilling debut, a record that dances across your ear drums and consistently proves that even within the most classic prog metal visions there is still a lot of space for growth and sonic exploration. This is a truly impressive and exciting record, an album that doesn't need to tread new ground because their mastery of Dream Theater style prog is so acute. 

Terror Management Theory shines not just because the musicians involved are all supremely talented, but because of how the chemistry between the artists seems to manifest itself. Despite these songs all being finely crafted, multi part compositions, something about what Temic does feels breathtakingly organic. Temic prove time and time again that their vision is unique within the genre and there is a simple, elegant poetry to all that they have done on this record. It's a complex, living organism, and one where you get the sense that everyone is having a really excellent time. And honestly - what more could you want out of a prog metal album? 

This is a potent debut offering. I hope that this band manages to stay together, because as much as prog these days often seems masturbatory and sad, this is a record that stands apart and speaks to a band who are on a wholly different level. Terror Management Theory is the sound of a group of guys executing at the absolute top of their games and pushing each other to be ever better. There is an impressive level of sonic poetry throughout this album and letting yourself get lost in the fray is going to be a rare treat for heavy fans of all stripes.

Pre-order the album: 

https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/Temic

Sermon - Of Golden Verse

It's rare that I feel the need to call a record iridescent. Yet that's how the multi faceted musical magic of Sermon seems to present itself on Of Golden Verse. This is a record that is absolutely massive in scale, with a grand, larger than life vision that captures the imagination and takes their brand of progressive metal to a much higher level. The end result is an offering that is grandiose, powerful and deeply emotional. There is a shining power to this album and the layered execution that they bring to the table time and time again. 

Of Golden Verse is bombastic. It's a record that feels fueled by its own internal drama and which can continually leave listeners in awe of what's been crafted here. There aren't a lot of albums in the scene today that are able to reflect this level of emotional depth. While Sermon are undeniably playing progressive metal, many of the hallmarks of the genre are cast aside in the name of making something more emotionally vibrant. It also serves to make the record far easier to digest than many other prog metal offerings, but it's deep enough in its conception that listeners are deeply rewarded for returning for another listen. 

Sermon have gone above and beyond on Of Golden Verse. While the future of the band seems unclear (The group seemed to go completely off the radar after a single show following their debut album) one can only hope that they continue to release such emotionally powerful and exciting music. Sermon have found a way to bring their sound to bold new heights on Of Golden Verse and it's far too much fun to really immerse yourself in the darkness of their music as you navigate these bold sonic landscapes time and time again. 

Pre-order the album! 

https://sermonsound.bandcamp.com/album/of-golden-verse

Hammers of Misfortune - Overtaker

 

Hammers Of Misfortune are back with aplomb. Holy shit. This new album, the bands first in six years is absolutely stunning in every sense of the word. With a sound that can only be described as "King Crimson meets 80's thrash" and touting most of the The Locust Years era lineup with the addition of Vektor's former rhythm section (!!!) Overtaker is a truly incredible, exciting and one of a kind thrash metal release that longtime fans of the band are going to completely lose themselves in - this is seriously already one of my top albums of 2022. 

The current evolution on Hammers of Misfortune's sound has been described by the band as "Psychedelic Thrash" and I personally would be hard pressed to find a better descriptor. Overtaker stuns every step of the way with its off kilter approach that seems to owe more to John Cobbet and partner Sigrid Sheie's other band, Vhol, more than anything else. Overtaker speaks to the relentless and jaw dropping majesty of Hammers of Misfortune and all that they have accomplished over the past twenty plus years. It's a record that required insane technical proficiency to record (Anderson seriously sparkles on this) but also one whose vision seems almost too epic to grasp, even after four or five listens. 

Overtaker is a sleeper case for metal album of the year. This is a record that brings together so many unexpected and exciting elements in a way that feels almost punishingly logical. When you're presented with the end result of what these musical geniuses have been able to create here it's hard not to be thrilled with all that has been done. Hammers of Misfortune have pushed things over the top and left me completely in awe with this release. Overtaker is a one of a kind journey into darkness forgotten. You need it in your life. 

Pre-order the album!
www.hammersofmisfortune.bandcamp.com  

Elder - Innate Passage

 

The evolution Elder has had over the years has been incredible. From young kids who desperately wanted to sound like Sleep, to the prog metal gods they are today, they have always impressed. It feels like this latest offering, Innate Passage is on a different level. There is a certain thrill, a potent energy that drives Innate Passage forward that sets it apart from anything else the band has ever done. With this release Elder prove that they truly are one of a kind, brilliantly fusing 70s prog frills with heavy riffs and so much more. 

This is the bands second album with their current lineup, and the level of comfort is clear. After presumably spending the pandemic writing this record, we are left with what is by far Elder's most nuanced and structured work to date. It's a rare band who can drop an album of five songs over 8 and a half minutes long and have them all be extremely compelling, but Elder is one such band. This is helped in large part by completely gorgeous production. It's so delightful to lose yourself in the shimmering guitars of a track like "Coalescence". Every piece here feels like a movement in a classical composition, and when you finally get to the end it feels like a new beginning. 

Innate Passage is a stunner, any way you slice it. This is a record that has firmly built on a long history in the underground and continually speaks to the power of artistic development. Even though Elder may now be a far cry from those three teenagers from Massachusetts who love stoner metal, there is still a clear link back to that. This current era of the band is completely thrilling, powerful and all encompassing. You need to let yourself get lost in these compositions because what Elder have done here transcends so much of their past work and proves that they are solidly among the best to ever do it. This is a record that feels good to listen too and you need it in your life. 

Pre-order the album!

https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/innate-passage

Haunter - Disincarnate Ails

 

Haunter are a progressive blackened death metal force. They are a band who have long operated at the peak of extremity, who build on some of the most twisted sides of the genre and continually unveil raw darkness. This new offering is a huge step forward for them, building on their previous thoughtful offerings to craft what is their best work yet. This is a very dense and immersive record, an album that underground metal nerds the world over are goign to fall in love with as they attempt to wrap their heads around some truly twisted visions. 

Disincarnate Ails impresses because how densely packed everything is. Even though the three songs on this record splay out over roughly thirty minutes, the songs are loaded with information, complex structures and some truly impressive musicianship. Yet, the band never loses the more extreme side of their music. They continually remain firmly rooted in death metal rather than becoming just a prog nerd band. The ned result is a record that sucks you in, but which really can only be taken one listen at a time. It demands a lot from the fan, but sometimes those are the best albums, the ones that force us to think and really bend the knee in honor of a well thought out and gloriously executed offering. 

This record is a crusher any way you slice it. It has a very real swagger and a sense that Haunter are going to choke you out. It's such a delight to get really lost in the twisted myriad layers of this album and to experience the strange sonic torment that they have unleashed. Disincarnate Ails is clearly the next step in death metal. It's important to let yourself get immersed in this because I get the impression this record is going to end up being highly influential on a lot of very smart bands for years to come. 

Pre-order the album!

https://hauntertx.bandcamp.com

Deviant Process - Nurture

Those in the know are very aware of Quebec's long and interesting history in technical extreme music. One of the latest additions to this pantheon is the almighty Deviant Process. Their new record goes a step beyond traditional technical death metal bringing in all sort of prog elements and generally making for an intriguing, if at times impenetrable listening experience. This is prog taken to extremes and it's fascinating to hear players who are just that good executing impossible lines at a million miles an hour. I kind of love it. 

Nurture is an absolute stunner of a record any way you slice it. The songwriting has taken a huge step up for the band and the sparkling guitar lines are just phenomenal. So few bands can really execute with the same level of verve and aplomb as Deviant Process. Their vision behind this is clear and fun to latch on too. It's shimmering and powerful, with songs like 'The Blessings Of Annihilation Infinite' leaving listeners completely in awe and in thrall to the top notch guitar playing that has come to define so much of this music. Nurture is a fascinating record in many regards and letting yourself get lost in it is a real pleasure. 

The thing of course that wraps this all up tightly with a bow is the thoughtful inclusion of an Obliveon cover at the end. They are the sort of father of so many of these bands, pulling from the ur-band Voivod and crafting some of the very early predecessors to technical death metal. Deviant Process have managed to bring us all forward whilst simultaneously, eagerly looking back into our shared musical history. This is Quebec technical metal done right. It's exciting, energetic and guaranteed to keep you headbanging.

Pre-order the record!

https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/DeviantNurture

Ghostbound - Extended Play For My Sweet Mary Thyme

 

Ghostbound are a progressive and cinematic metal band from New York City. To be clear when I say progressive metal I mean it in much more of a Green Carnation sense than a Dream Theater one. The music here is layered and interesting. there are all sorts of twists and turns it takes, but it's all tied into a larger and more powerful oceanic theme. It's a delight to really lose yourself in the sweet relief and the epic poetry of Extended Play For My Sweet Mary Thyme. It's a fascinating listen and one that will keep you entranced for spin after spin. 

There are so many interesting and intricate layers to what Ghostbound are doing here, from the gorgeous production to the strangely elegant execution. It's the sort of record that really rewards multiple listens and which coaxes out the listeners full attention. When you listen form front to back you feel like you've been taken on a journey, with both the intro and the outro featuring the sound of waves crashing on the beach. There are experiments with a variety of genres, from black metal to shoegaze, but all of it makes sense in the larger context of what Ghostbound are doing and it leaves the listener totally entranced. 

Extended Play For My Sweet Mary Thyme is a triumph because it feels and sounds classic. It's a record that eagerly embraces strange new sounds and which continually and eagerly advances the overarching vision of what this band is all about. Ghostbound have found a uniquely exciting way to express a clear and passionate vision. It's a delight to immerse yourself in the many layered triumph that they have constructed. The more you delve into the simple and tightly executed poetry the more special the band becomes.

Pre-order the album!

https://ghostbound.bandcamp.com/album/all-is-phantom

TDW - The Day The Clocks Stopped

TDW have been kicking around the Dutch scene for a while now, but this latest offering, The Day The Clocks Stopped is something different. this is an intensely personal offering outlining the project mastermind, Tom de Wit's life or death struggle with inflammatory bowel disease at the age of 19. It's an intense listen and extremely rewarding, full of emotion and proof of mans ability to overcome. The record is potent in scope, full of unique ideas and constantly leaving listeners begging for more. It's a prog metal album that is excellent musically, but brings so much more to the table.

If anything this prog metal masterpiece is most similar to Pain Of Salvation's In The Passing Light Of Day about frontman Daniel Gildenow's struggle with disease. The end result of The Day The Clocks Stopped is an intense listen. It's a long record with layers upon layers. The centerpiece of the album is 'No Can Do' an 18 minute long epic. TDW brutally outline their struggle but also show us how he found the strength to carry on. It's a record that is terrifying at times, but the honesty found within is also what makes it so appealing. It really gives you a sense that with this latest offering Tom de Wit and his collaborators are documenting the human condition. 

There's a lot to pick apart on The Day The Clocks Stopped and a lot of music to digest. It's a really gripping offering though and one that really encourages spending time with the magic of the record and uncovering the myriad layers. It's an album that goes above and beyond to document a terrifying moment in someones life and embracing the reality of it is a little bit strange. That being said - this is a glorious offering and one I'm sure I'll be coming back too - there's simply so much to love about what has been done here. 

Pre-order the album!

www.tdwmusic.com/shop 

Gargoyl - S/T

  

 Now this is an exciting one. Gargoyl is the long anticipated side project from Revocation's Dave Davidson, and Ayahuasca's Luke Roberts. After the band released their monster Asomatous demo back in 2019 the underground was abuzz at the potential this band brought to the table. With their self titled debut, Gargoyl continue to dance around genre descriptions and drive towards something twisted and addictive. There is a very real magic to this band and the way they conjure up bleak and potent imagery that just keeps coming. 

There are a lot of wonderful interlocking layers on Gargoyl. The clean vocals are wondrous, almost chanted and really leaning into the bizarro twists and turns that hel pto make this band such a titanic force. The production as a general rule is excellent. There are nooks and crannies in this record that reflect a breadth of songwriting dedication you don't often see in side projects. The way the dissonant chords crumble under big choruses on a track like 'Plastic Nothing' before diving into sprawling jazzy chord progressions is breathtaking. Gargoyl's PR wire opted to call them 'Progressive Grunge' and while that's an oxymoron - it's also as good a take as any as to what the band have pieced together here. 

Gargoyl is a masterful offering and one that will continue to capture the imagination time and time again. There are so many delicious twists and turns on this record that you're going to find yourself falling in love time and time again. The band have been able to build on their early promise and craft a record that is varied, exciting and full of thrilling new takes on the genre of the sort that I haven't seen in a very long time. Gargoyl have outdone themselves - who knows how they will top it on the follow up?

 Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/GargoylBand/

Bangladeafy - House Fly

 

 

 

For those in the know, Bangladeafy are one of the most unique and exciting bands in New York City. The group have a truly unique sound, with just a drum and bass (And sometimes synths now) they play extremely technical, rhythm centric music that is weird, powerful and enthralling. Nothing is too strange for Bangladeafy to take on. They only look to that next great horizon. Their new record, House Fly is a massive step forward for them. Not only is this the first record to prominently feature vocals, and synths but also it sees a new level of songwriting prowess from the band. 

 

The raw and tormented emotion that Bangladeafy broadcast here is thrilling and leaves me in awe of what's to come next from these tortured visionaries. This is prog metal at its finest, off beat and over the top. Ready to melt your head. There are simply so many layers that you can sink your teeth into. The band are clearly fulfilling their own distinct vision, fully realized with years of practice and increasingly tight performances. Bangladeafy shine because they are masters of their craft and dedicated to going above and beyond. In some ways their sound almost feels like a parody of prog metal because it is just that good and that far above and beyond their peers. 

House Fly in some ways feels like the twisted next step in the history of jazz. The band have an insane amount going on and there is just so much weird stuff they have to say. For instance the synth laden madness of 'Musca domestica' almost sounds like it was inspired by bagpipe music! This is a record that is wholly unique and a potent force in the world of prog. It's weird, abrasive and not something that your run of the mill fan is going to get. Still for those of us who represent the devout few this is a rare and worthy treat. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Bangladeafy

Humavoid - Lidless

Prog metal has taken some really fascinating twists and turns in recent years. There are simply so many outgrowths on the genre and it feels like the quality of musicianship has really blown up recently There's just so much to sink your teeth into. You can't help but to fall in love with all of the genres crazed and gloriously nerdy theatrics. One of my current favorite finds in the genre is Humavoid. Their potent new record Lidless is a stunner, it goes all over the place but somehow returns back to sanity by the end.

You see Humavoid specialize in the sort of off kilter, brainy prog that leaves so many of us gasping for air. Lidless darts from art-jazz to technical death metal with fun grooves in between. These songs are multilayered and intense. The vision behind each track wonderfully clear. It's exciting to get to immerse yourself in all that the band has put together here. It means that Lidless is not only a thrilling listen but one which demands multiple spins. The introduction of strange elements and unique rhythms means that you can't help but be enamored. This is an ambitious project to be sure, but I feel Lidless lives up to its own expectations, and sometimes goes beyond.

Now don't get me wrong this isn't an easy listen .If you're not already into this sort of hard hitting, heavy and constantly shifting progressive metal then you are going to be alienated by what's going on here. That being said, Lidless is perfect for those of us who want to dive into something that is intensely geek and really showcases a sort of depth that not many of the bands peers could ever delve into. This is a record that despite its intensity remains weirdly fun, and if you're looking for the next prog metal summer jam - this might be it.

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

Green Carnation - Leaves Of Yesteryear

Few bands in the underground have the legacy of Green Carnation. The band shaped the scene with some truly fascinating prog metal between 2000 and 2006. Most notably their 2001 epic, "Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness" really spurred the band to worldwide notoriety. Now they are back with a truly fascinating offering in Leaves Of Yesteryear, which has been their first new release in 14 years. Featuring both a re-recording and a Black Sabbath cover this album is just as much a retrospective as it is a look to the future.

The biggest takeaway of course though is that Green Carnation are still as talented as ever. The new songs are bombastic and powerful. Album opener, 'Leaves Of Yesteryear' proves this, while simultaneously showing the group is very much aware of their legacy and building with that in mind. As a general rule the production, courtesy of Endre Kirkesola (Abbath, Solefald) is excellent, the record is perfectly mixed and the many layers come together nicely. Leaves Of Yesteryear is in some ways a step forward for the band even as they show a clear appreciation and understanding of what came before.


As a whole the journey this record takes is epic, sandwiching the re-recording of 'My Dark Reflections Of Life And Death' between amazing originals and seeing us out with a mournful cover of Sabbath's 'Solitude'. This makes for a transcendent listening experience that has me coming back to Leaves Of Yesteryear time and time again. Once more Green Carnation have proven that not only do they have a profound understanding of prog metal, but they are also among the best at executing within the genre.

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

Barishi - Old Smoke

It's been four years since we've heard from Barishi. In the interim they've lost a singer and had him replaced by Graham Brooks who now handles guitar and vocals. One might think that this would lead to more straightforward compositions from the prog metal upstarts, but as luck would have it it seems to be that Barishi are executing at a higher level than ever before. Their new offering, Old Smoke is a stunner, driving from peak to peak and repeatedly proving that Barishi are among the best in the prog metal game.

In many ways Barishi feel like an early version of Mastodon - or what Mastodon could have been. Their music is relentlessly technical, full of spiraling riffs and unique nooks and crannies. Meanwhile the intensity and precision of the songwriting suggests almost a Gojira-esque element to the band. The point being - if there was ever a group who really understood the heavier side of prog metal it was Barishi. Their music is exciting, over the top and just generally speaking the sort of thing that you can get lost in. This band - more than many others of their time and place operate with a deep understanding of this style of music.

To kick off the new record with a pair of 10 minute long tracks, the two longest songs of the bands career (Until of course the album closer!), is a ballsy move to be sure. However it speaks to just how far Barishi has come. Each track, in fact the entire first side really takes the listener on the journey. As you flip the album over and fall into side two the journey finds thrilling new directions. It's hard not to be enamored with Old Smoke, the band are one of a kind and ungodly talented - what more could you really ask for from a prog metal band? 


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

Elder - Omens

Watching Elder evolve in the decade I've been a fan has been a pleasure. When I caught the band on their first European tour I thought I was just seeing a cool stoner rock band. In the time since then I've seen them everywhere from 150 person clubs to festivals in front of ten thousand people. Their growth has been unparalleled and endlessly exciting. They have emerged from the morass of stoner rock bands to be a truly unique prog metal band fusing stoner elements with so much more and making for some truly compelling work.

Omens is the bands most fully realized work to date. It's proggy to be sure but it also eagerly embraces the low end of the groups past. By this point the keys are fully integrated into the songwriting and Georg Edert, on his second release with the group, seems to be much more at ease. Frontman and guitarist Nick Disalvo is really leaning into his newfound prog-godhood here. The beautiful production and shining compositions are absolutely stunning - the sort of things you can not only sink your teeth into, but that show a delightful passion behind the music that few of the bands peers can emulate.

This is a stunner, a record that takes the band to a whole new level and proves once and for all that, yes, Elder are the greatest band of their generation. Even the longest songs on this record are free of noodling but are instead fitting odes to exactly where they are going. A release that is truly driven by passion and endlessly gorgeous you can't help but to sink your teeth into  the poetry of what Elder have created here. Omens is a thrilling record with countless layers and a huge step forward for the band who may very well be the next Mastodon.

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

The World Without Us - Incarnate

We are far removed from the prog boom of the early 2010's. That being said - there are still a lot of interesting things being done in the genre by musicians out there who have outsized talent and incredible passion. Such is the case of The World Without Us, one of the most skilled prog metal acts I have heard come out of PA in a good long while. While their initial EP does certainly see them wrestling with a few growing pains, this is a fun listen that seems ready to take the bands music to a whole new level.

Incarnate is fascinating in its ability to meld ideas. While the general approach is distinctly proggy there are moments of nu metal and even classic rock ideas being brought to the fore. Meanwhile the sheer chops showcased on a track like Things To Tell The Press are stunning. The sheer level of execution that they bring is impressive. This being said - not all the production choices are what they could be, I'd love to hear a fuller rhythm section and perhaps a more balanced mix on future releases. The groovy magic of these tracks is surprisingly well delivered for a first release though, and pit starters like I Am The Mist certainly bring the circle pit inspiring madness.

The World Without Us have put together a tasty 4 song EP here that nicely documents what they are about and where they can take their music in the next few months and years. With excellent vocal delivery and top notch guitar work Incarnate proves that the band has a boatload of talent. Their generally strong songwriting sees a nice blend of cleans and growls with clear song structures. It means that when it comes down to it, Incarnate is a compelling listen, a record worth multiple spins for any prog fan.

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

Nocturnus AD - Paradox

Y'know - I never truly thought it was happening until it hit my inbox, a new Nocturnus album. Sure it's under the Nocturnus AD moniker but still, this is the successor to one of the great death metal bands of the 90s. Building on the bands penchant for creepy and transcendent death metal, Paradox is a truly potent release. Pieced together by founder and mastermind Mike Browning this is a mesmerizing record and one that has me completely in awe. It's a wonderful addition to Nocturnus's noble legacy.

This is a twisting and turning record. It has all of the strange and off kilter trademarks that made Nocturnus AD such a good band in the first place. Paradox is a death metal record that demands multiple listens. The wonderfully dated sounding synths couch this entire thing in the 90s aesthetic but the general approach is wonderfully forward thinking. Rather than getting caught up in the myths of yesteryear, Nocturnus AD seem to continually be pushing forward. Though a lot of their aesthetic and approach is certainly rooted in 90s death metal, Nocturnus AD have carved out a sound here that is leagues ahead of their peers.

There is something inherently fun and mystifying about having a new Nocturnus record in 2019. It's not something I would have ever expected but it feels right. The balls out assault of these songs is thriling as is there willingness to sink back into prog stereotypes. It's crazy to think how far ahead of their time Nocturnus were in 1990 when The Key came out. This is a fascinating listen and one that I'm sure I will be coming back too time and time again. Perfectly balancing nostalgia with forward thinking audacity, Paradox is a stone cold stunner.

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

Dreadnought - Emergence

Dreadnought have been stunning underground prog and doom devotees for years now. With a sound that elegantly fuses a broad swathe of influences, Dreadnought have built a reputation for crafting truly potent prog that flawlessly integrates black metal and doom influences. Rising out of the potent Denver scene, they are rightly a staple on year end lists. This latest offering, Emergence seems to be yet another step in the legacy. More grandiose and broad in scale than any of its predecessors, Emergence is a step forward for the band. 

I have always been enamored with the sheer bombast of Dreadnought. The elegant use of seven string guitar is counterbalanced by immaculate saxophones and flutes. The dual female vocal harmonies are turned on their head by Kelly Schilling's terrifying black metal shriek. The breadth of dynamics that the band has come to embrace are addictive. Emergence is sort of a coming of age for the band. Now four albums into their career not only are they creating what is objectively great art but they are drawing in more fans with every sonic stride. 

This record is frequently dizzying in scope, leaning on longer songs and proggy arrangements. I think it's truly fascinating but at times it can almost feel like too much. That being said, the fully immersive magic of the record is what keeps me coming back. Everything about Andy Patterson of Boars Nest's production on Emergence is immaculate, it speaks to the sound the band has crafted. It's an addictive listen and one we won't soon forget. Drench yourself in its ample waves of volume. Drench yourself and fall in love. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/dreadnoughtband/

Lord Dying - Mysterium Tremendum

I don't think I would have ever expected a Lord Dying record to sound like this. Mysterium Tremendum is a sprawling concept album from these sludge masters cum prog metal freaks. Except calling them prog metal freaks isn't accurate. There are still hard rocking moments. There are other parts that seem like they might fit better on a dark ambient record. It's an album that is all over the map and yet it somehow fits into the overall imagery of the band and encourages you to delve even deeper into what they are all about.

What makes Mysterium Tremendum so fascinating to me is the way that it almost eagerly dips from peak to peak. It is full of emotional intensity nadh as some of the bands most nuanced performancesto date. Rather than trying to rip your face off with death 'n' roll o drag you to hell with crushing sludge, this is a record that eagerly fascinates the listener, providing all manner of sonic dalliances and encouraging you to go deep into the underbelly of the heavy underground in the search for peace, freedom and some sort of absolution. This record is triumphant and powerful, the next step forward for a metal band looking to find their way after years of silence.

One gets the impression from the first that every aspect of Mysterium Tremendum was put under a microscope. The production is gorgeous and the execution top notch. there are all sorts of interesting musical twists and turns. There are all sorts of unexpected new directions for the band. I would never have though Lord Dying were capable of putting out a record like this, but now that I have it in my paws, it all makes sense. This is a huge step forward for the band and hints at so much more to come, what's not to love?

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

Stellar Circuits - Ways We Haunt

I don't write about a lot of prog on this blog, but every once in a while something slips through that I find truly inspiring or interesting. Such is the case with Stellar Circuits and their new record Ways We Haunt. This is a powerful ad dynamic record full of interesting ideas and moods that make for some truly compelling, very different and wonderfully driving listening. Spiralling and powerful, Stellar Circuits pays tribute to traditional prog tropes without ever falling victim to them, and it makes for potent art.

The balance of dark and light seems to be a key focus of the work of Stellar Circuits. The powerful, almost swaggering guitars come in tightly controlled and closely balanced against the refined and thrilling assault of the elegant guitar sounds. Meanwhile the futuristic synths and imagery that surround the record makes for a really exciting sonic painting that allows you to dig in deep to the record and get a sense of where the artists were hoping to come from. This is a majestic listen and one that sweeps elegantly from peak to peak, an authoritative statement on the status of progressive metal in 2018.

With influences from across the board (I think I can even identify hints of pop punk in there?) and the skill to pull all of it off with aplomb, Stellar Circuits is the kind of band that you are going to get completely lost in. Shimmering and pretty whilst unafraid to dump into decidedly girthy and crunchy riffage, Stellar Circuits use Ways We Haunt as a sort of exercise in sonic balance. They demand a lot of the listener, but they also give a lot. It's a release that shows a band with a ton of potential getting ready to reach the next level and I am thrilled.

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https://www.facebook.com/stellarcircuits/