Maxi Curnow – ‘If We Make It’: A Hard-Hitting Video You Need To See [Review]

Although everyone has the right to express themselves however they like, the world needs more musicians willing to stand up for a positive cause and draw attention to serious issues. Maxi Curnow is one of those musicians.

The video below is fucking harsh. It’s not easy viewing, not by a long shot. But it also only hints at the brutal reality the assorted emergency services deal with every day.

Maxi Curnow isn’t just an insanely talented multi-instrumentalist with Read more…

Posted on 08 November 2015

Mestis – ‘Polysemy’ [Review]

Through Mestis, Animals As Leaders guitar maestro Javier Reyes has set out to challenge himself, setting the following self-described standards:

1) “Create a style of music that focusses on being emotionally exploitive and technically sound…

2) …yet simple enough for the average music listener to appreciate…

3) …using the eight-string guitar in a form that is unconventional to the “trends” or independent of characteristics that are found in music styles/genres that have popularized it, [and]…

4) …create music that [expresses] my personality, upbringing, emotions and musical taste.”

While the results are unlikely to immediately appeal to 1D fans or your gran, Polysemy is definitely a far less cognitively overwhelming prospect than the average instrumental guitar-driven offering. What really sets it apart, though, is Javier Reyes’ ability to Read more…

Posted on 05 November 2015

Coheed And Cambria – ‘The Color Before The Sun’ [Review]

When the first couple of tracks on an album carry “Explicit Lyrics” warnings, I consider that a good sign. After all, who wants to hear a band holding back?

After seven conceptually-themed Coheed And Cambria albums comes The Color Before The Sun, a collection of autobiographical tracks based on frontman Claudio Sanchez’s life. It’s a real right-angled creative direction change, but judging from the unmistakable passion that permeates its entire running time, it was clearly necessary.

Given its nature, this is not an album that can (or arguably even should) be compared to Coheed And Cambria’s previous efforts.

The question is: Does The Color Before The Sun work as an album in its own right?

The answer is Read more…

Posted on 16 October 2015

Teramaze – ‘Her Halo’ [Review]

Opening an album with a 13-minute epic, taking in everything from delicate acoustic guitar arpeggios and gracefully dramatic piano to chunky, churning riffs and soaring solos in the process, is not a move most bands would choose to make.

But then, Teramaze aren’t most bands.

After An Ordinary Dream establishes Teramaze’s home territory – a fastidiously percolated progressive-metallic blend of Symphony X, Dream Theater, and Karnivool – these guys spend the duration of Her Halo exploring both its hyperdense core and wild outer limits. The result is a journey full of Read more…

Posted on 29 September 2015

Scale The Summit – ‘V’ [Review]

On V, their fifth album (and third long-player since 2009’s career-skyrocketing Carving Desert Canyons), Scale The Summit have sought to further expand their already considerable repertoire of instru-mental pieces. Heavy on the heaviness, equally shred-happy and melodically restrained, and fond of harmonic complexity, Scale The Summit remain in a class of their own here.

After ticking off almost every item an instrumental progressive metal act could stick on their wish list (tours with everyone from Dream Theater and Devin Townsend to Yes, Periphery, and Between The Buried And Me; ecstatic levels of praise from all corners; even a Billboard-charting album in 2013’s The Migration), Scale The Summit could be forgiven for resting on their laurels – Read more…

Posted on 23 September 2015

Teramaze – ‘Out Of Subconscious’ [Review]

In order for someone to become world-class at a particular skill, research indicates that at least 10,000 hours of practice are required. The individual members of Teramaze have clearly put in way more than that. They represent progressive metal at its most engaging, immersive, and addictive – a tough peak to hit considering the competition.

Out Of Subconscious sounds like Symphony X jamming with Dream Theater and Karnivool. Read more…

Posted on 15 September 2015

Chon – ‘Grow’ [Review]

My face seems to think it’s Halloween, because I can’t stop grinning like a carved-up pumpkin after hearing this album.

CHON are a truly unique band capable of blending Disney-cute melodies with hard-driving hypersyncopated grooves (as on Grow opener Book, featuring Animals As Leaders drummist Matt Garstka) and intimidating time signature changes (second track But, again pinned down by AAL’s animalistic skin-beater). Add in sparkly fusion chords, polished-but-not-clinical production, and sublime vocals (entering on Can’t Wait) and…damn. If you’ve not been scared off by the six-letter F-word, this is your dream come true.

Highlights? How about every single moment? This may sound hyperbolic, but fuck it – it’s true. Grow has been Read more…

Posted on 09 September 2015

The Dear Hunter – ‘Act IV: Rebirth In Reprise’ [Review]

Before you press play on this album, you’d better brace yourself. This is for three reasons:

1) The Dear Hunter have been going for five studio albums and a series of nine EPs now, so it’s safe to say this band is a bit of a Big Deal;

2) The Dear Hunter’s main project is a six (or rather VI)-act story, in the process of being presented over the course of six/VI albums. Act III: Life And Death was released back in 2009 – and so this album, Act IV, has been six years in the making, and fan anticipation (fanticipation? …maybe not) has been at fever pitch for a long time now;

3) Act IV: Rebirth In Reprise is beyond epic.

This is an absolute rollercoaster of an album, launching into ultra-rich Biffy-Clyro-crossed-with-Queen harmonies which soon give way to forest-party-falling-down-the-stairs folk and an inquisitive orchestral section. As opening statements go, Rebirth is pretty damn unique – a very rare statement in today’s musical climate. Then we get pitched into Read more…

Posted on 04 September 2015