Animals As Leaders – ‘The Madness Of Many’ [Review]

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Animals As Leaders represent that rarest breed of bands, so far ahead of their time that even their most visionary peers struggle to keep up. For fans of instrumental progressive metal, Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes, and Matt Garstka need absolutely zero introduction, their names synonymous with music so intricate that the fact there are only three of them is still scarcely comprehensible. To those for whom djent is everything, Animals As Leaders are the leaders of the pack.

The Madness Of Many is not going to do anything to change that. The thought of Read more…

Posted on 04 November 2016

Ion Dissonance – ‘Cast The First Stone’ [Review]

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Ion Dissonance are pissed off – and with good reason. Held back by behind-the-scenes struggles for the past six years, the Canadian metallers are finally ready to unleash fifth album Cast The First Stone upon the world.

By the time Ion Dissonance are done, you may not have any ears left Read more…

Posted on 23 October 2016

Meshuggah – ‘The Violent Sleep Of Reason’ [Review]

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Meshuggah’s entire discography can be summed up in one word: Intense. Having birthed the modern prog-metal genre known as djent, the Swedish titans remain one of the heavy music world’s most influential collectives, synonymous with clinically precise grooves and hypercomplex rhythmic structures. The Violent Sleep Of Reason, however, is a little less surgical than before.

By recording The Violent Sleep Of Reason live, Meshuggah have found a new way to get heavier – by giving the production a raw, classic-album vibe. The results sound fresher than much modern metal, which tends to push the digital envelope too far and wind up sapped of soul and vitality. This is Meshuggah at their most…whisper it…organic. Read more…

Posted on 09 October 2016

Plini – ‘Handmade Cities’ [Review]

Instrumental guitar fans: Lend me your eyes. You know Animals As Leaders? They’re pretty sick, right? Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes know their shit. It’s pretty undeniable.

Glad we agree on that. Now, you know Steve Vai? Pretty insulting question, I know. Sorry. The guy’s a universe-class legend. Again, that’s just a straight plain fact.

Now, imagine Animals As Leaders teaming up with Vai for an entire album, calling in occasional cameos from Allan Holdsworth and his and Vai’s extensive back catalogue of virtuosic collaborators. Excited, moist, tumescent – the simple thought of that dream becoming a reality is guaranteed to make you at least one of those things. Good news ahead… Read more…

Posted on 04 October 2016

Devin Townsend Project – ‘Transcendence’ [Review]

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A camel is a horse designed by committee.

This single sentence encapsulates the core of my perspective on music. I love hearing one person give birth to an entire creative project, aided ideally by others who have as little input as is necessary to get the job done. Creative control freaks hold the key to my heart, whether they be virtuoso guitarist-composers such as Steve Vai, or erudite musical polymaths like Devin Townsend.

Plus, if you Google that same sentence, this image comes up:

If my perspective is always right and never wrong Read more…

Posted on 25 August 2016

Tesseract – ‘Errai’ [Review]

Normally, nothing makes a potential listener’s ears glaze over faster than the words “bonus material”. A collection of letters that instantly bring to mind haphazard collections of half-hearted acoustic songs, iffy remixes, and just plain shitty live recordings. Bonus material is for superfans only; it’s a long-established fact.

Normally, anyway Read more…

Posted on 08 August 2016

Periphery – ‘Periphery III: Select Difficulty’ [Review]

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They say that when you hit the top, it’s all downhill from there. Holding on to peak position rarely lasts forever. Sooner or later, a new challenger appears, and overtakes you.

That may be the case for most bands, but Periphery are not your average metalhead collective. From the first note of their eponymous debut, released back in 2010, Periphery have established themselves as one of a kind. You can compete with technique, production value, and marketing, but you cannot compete with originality.

Their unique voice aside, Periphery remain one of the metal world’s most respected bands because they’re fucking ambitious. Whether focussing on a more organic sound for Periphery II, showcasing each member’s individual songwriting skills on the gorgeous Clear EP, or diving into full-on prog territory with Juggernaut Alpha and Juggernaut Omega (both released only last year)…man alive. These guys just don’t know how to slack off – and thank God for that Read more…

Posted on 22 July 2016

Levin Minnemann Rudess – ‘From The Law Offices Of Levin Minnemann Rudess’ [Review]

If music were a video game, From The Law Offices Of Levin Minnemann Rudess would be the final boss level. The stage at which you look back at all that came before, shake your head, and laugh at how easy it seems in hindsight.

For prog fans, Tony Levin, Marco Minnemann, and Jordan Rudess likely require little in the way of introductions Read more…

Posted on 21 June 2016