Between The Buried And Me – ‘Coma Ecliptic’ [Review]

Between The Buried And Me

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For prog-metal heavyweights Between The Buried And Me, less has never been more. They’ve built a solid career on expansive songs crammed with everything but the kitchen sink – and latest offering Coma Ecliptic sees BTBAM continue, appropriately enough, to progress.

The most immediate sign of forward movement on Coma Ecliptic is the crystal-clear Dream Theater influence that permeates the whole album from second track The Coma Machine onwards. From the clipped and spacious production job to periodically Petrucci-esque guitar work and nods in the direction of DT keyboard wizard Jordan Rudess, it’s clear that Read more…

Posted on 20 July 2015

2000 Trees 2015 [Festival Review]

2000 Trees

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Few things in life feel as good as immersing yourself in something you love. Diving deep into awesomeness, allowing the world’s worries to slip away, replacing baggage with better things. Escaping.

Of all the modern world’s escape hatches, music remains one of the most enigmatic and rewarding options. However, everyday life offers few opportunities for extended periods of musical immersion. You can walk down the street under headphones, spend a lazy Sunday in the company of your sound system with the curtains drawn, or spend an evening at a top-class venue taking in a few bands – but for many music fanatics, such experiences still don’t go deep enough.

2000 Trees certainly does. Situated on an out-of-the-way Gloucestershire farm in a 3G-free dead zone, the Trees site is an ideal location for digital disconnection, and reconnection with simpler things. The feeling of sun on your face, wind on your skin, and pure live music vibrating every cell in your body.

Arcane Roots’ (95%) set was the perfect reward for an Read more…

Posted on 15 July 2015

Cleft [Interview]

Cleft

Cleft are fucking nuts. Some bands just grab your attention through sheer force of intent – and this instrumental turbo-prog duo is definitely one of them. TMMP got talking to guitarist Dan about their upcoming set at 2000 Trees – and this is what came out…

You’re due to hit 2000 Trees 2015. How’re you feeling?

We’ve had a hectic and challenging few months due to illness so it feels like it’s come out of the blue to me actually. We’ve been burrowed away writing loads of new material for our next album, so we’ve not had much time to think about gigs and festivals. It’s only now that it’s so close that I’m realising we’re actually doing this festival, playing with so many amazing bands. It’s going to be an excellent weekend!

Musically, you’re pretty out there. If an inebriated stranger were to ask what you sound like, what would you say in response?

I’d describe ourselves (to an enormously drunk and unmusical stranger) like a cross between Yes, Slayer, and Mr Blobby. But to a normal human person, we’ve been categorising ourselves as “turbo-prog,” which seems to have stuck now.

We play riff-based progressive music that we’ve condensed down to the length of an average to short pop tune due to our very short attention spans. We’re exactly the same as the Beatles – if the Beatles were an instrumental, gear-obsessed drum/guitar duo with a penchant for filthy riffs and odd groovy rhythms…

What made you decide to stick with the guitar-drums duo format? Would you consider expanding the lineup?

I think we just both thrive on the challenge of Read more…

Posted on 02 July 2015

Heights / Throatpunch City / Eschar / Toska [Live Review – The Star, Guildford, 27/6/2015]

Heights

This lineup was unmissable.

Regular readers will already know how much I love talking about Toska. These guys are beyond insane, boasting telepathic tightness and currently-instrumental tunes heavier than the Terminator’s ballsack. Over their last few shows, Toska have been experimenting with a variety of dynamic approaches, and seem to have settled on a rawer, more focussed, and emotionally immersive sound than ever before.

Level Up: Achieved.

Having followed Eschar for so long they’re probably considering a restraining order, it’s safe to say that I think they’re alright – maybe even pretty good. The only thing Eschar seem to struggle with is Read more…

Posted on 28 June 2015

Maxi Curnow – ‘Transition’ [Review]

Maxi Curnow Transition

Last year, Maxi Curnow dropped STEM – TMMP’s #2 EP of the year – and it earned that lofty ranking for good reason. This guy is a one-of-a-kind talent – a genius, as overused as that term is today – and when it comes to instrumental skill, compositional nous, and punch-to-the-gut songcraft, Maxi Curnow possesses a perspective all his own. STEM was a unique display of musical Jedi skills, a twenty-minute epic crammed with twists, turns, and tangents – and it fucking blew my mind.

Transition is a different proposition. With this album, Maxi Curnow has everything he needs to go as far as he damn well pleases.

On Transition, the influence of virtuosi as diverse as Tesseract and Guthrie Govan merge with nods in the direction of electronic experimentalist extraordinaire Björk and a lack of trepidation in embracing Read more…

Posted on 27 June 2015

Paolo Raineri [Interview]

Paolo Raineri

TMMP regulars will have read much about experimental instrumental group KoMaRa, comprised of David Kollar, Pat Mastelotto, and Paolo Raineri. Here, TMMP talks to the ‘Ra’ in KoMaRa…

How’re you feeling about the release of KoMaRa’s debut album at the end of this month?

I’m excited, can’t wait to release it! I’m really curious about what people will think about it! We worked really hard to make it better and better: billions of different versions, overdubs, changes in structure, thinking what to do.

And Pat’s team is just great: Adrian who helped us a lot with sounds, structure, mixes; Bill recorded amazing voices over the album and did some mixes; Denis with his stunning graphic work for CD [and] vinyl and, of course, Adam [Jones, of Tool] who created the creature of KoMaRa. Unbelievable team and very nice persons.

I want to mention also my bandmates David and Pat: it’s really a pleasure Read more…

Posted on 25 June 2015

The Aristocrats – ‘Tres Caballeros’ [Review]

The Aristocrats

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Almost nobody in the world has mastered the art of instrumental mindfuckery to the degree the Aristocrats have. This fusion-powered power trio (Guthrie Govan on guitar, Bryan Beller on bass, and Marco Minnemann on drums) have been hailed as heroes the world over, and for a number of reasons:

Reason 1: Virtuosity. The musicianship on display throughout Tres Caballeros is nothing short of world-class. Considering the pedigrees of the players involved, this is hardly a surprise – but nonetheless, on a technical level this album is crammed full of brain-stunningly inventive moments and axe / stick / finger gymnastics that deserve recognition. Tres Caballeros is the sound of master musicians pushing Read more…

Posted on 23 June 2015

Rolo Tomassi – ‘Grievances’ [Review]

Rolo Tomassi

Four albums into their career, you might expect Rolo Tomassi to chill things out and give themselves a breather for once. But have they?

…Kind of, actually.

Grievances gets going with Estranged, an idiosyncratically Tomassi amalgam of hectic skin-beating barrages, stabbing and churning guitars, and a relatively low-key section that brings to mind dark alleys and glistening knives rather than sunshine and fluffiness. Raumdeuter takes Read more…

Posted on 22 June 2015

Project RnL – ‘Latin Dream (Live)’ [New Video]

Project RnL Interview Feature London 2016

It’s been too long since monster musicians Project RnL graced TMMP with their presence. This video easily makes up for lost time. Whimsical songwriting, mind-melting chops, a none-more-tasteful guitar solo, and an impactful introductory performance from new drummer Sharon Petrover – all this and more can be witnessed below… Read more…

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Posted on 20 June 2015

O.R.k. [Interview]

O.R.K.

What happens when King Crimson’s drummer, Porcupine Tree’s bassist, a massively prolific vocalist/composer, and a beyond talented guitarist cross musical paths? O.R.k. is the answer to that question – and as the online buzz around the band’s debut album Inflamed Rides continues to grow, TMMP got in touch to get the inside story about it all… Read more…

Posted on 20 June 2015

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