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

The Dillinger Escape Plan – ‘Dissociation’ [Review]

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Brace yourself.

Until today, I was always that guy. The Dillinger Escape Plan fan who said, in the face of the still-epic Option Paralysis and One Of Us Is The Killer, “…yeah, they’re sick, but Ire Works is still easily their best album.”

I am no longer that guy.

What happened to me? Read more…

Posted on 19 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

Nick Johnston – ‘Remarkably Human’ [Review]

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Is less more?

It’s a question as old as time itself. Modern guitar music tends to reflect the more-is-more mentality. Today’s axe-slingers generally aim for more technique, for more notes in less space, to add more gymnastic tricks to their arsenals.

Sometimes, more really is more; see the likes of Steve Vai and Levin Minnemann Rudess for proof. Most of the time, though, it isn’t. Do a few guitar solo searches on YouTube, and it won’t be long before you get sick to death of the sound of a million wankers wanking, saying literally fuck all Read more…

Posted on 04 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

Biffy Clyro – ‘Ellipsis’ [Review]

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Back in 2002, few people would have predicted that Biffy Clyro would reach the heights they have today. Thousands hoped that success would rain upon the Scottish trio – but on paper, it still seemed unlikely. Biffy have always been a complex, intricate proposition, no matter how many great hooks they proved capable of conjuring up – and the Number One spot is generally reserved for those who appeal to the lowest common denominator.

Of course, Opposites – a double album, no less – proved past doubters, myself included, wrong. Despite my love of prog and long-term Biffy fan status, Opposites still flew over my head, although I still got a warm fuzzy feeling from watching them finally make it. Read more…

Posted on 08 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

Fates Warning – ‘Theories Of Flight’ [Review]

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Progressive metal is, by definition, all about forward movement, change, and intensity. With Theories Of Flight, Fates Warning – ranked as prog-metal pioneers alongside the likes of Queensrÿche and Dream Theater and standing tall today as twelve-album veterans – are currently sitting on a release based around those same core themes.

Theories Of Flight is as progressive as it gets Read more…

Posted on 08 June 2016