Browsing Tag

Progressive Metal

Alt Metal instrumentalist Jorge Gomez has made his debut with the ‘Beyond Blackened’ EP

Posted on 27 December 2020

Madrid-residing Spanish musician, Jorge Gomez, has made their solo debut with the EP ‘Beyond Blackened’ which serves thrashy furore while fervently stamping down his signature sound on the Metal scene. There’s very little chance his imprint will go unnoticed for much longer.

The 4-track release, which was recorded at the legendary Alex Cappa’s Metal Factory, shows just how much nuance can be packed into a fast-paced offering of blackened instrumental Metal. In the absence of vocals, there’s definitely no absence of feeling as you wrap yourself up in the progressively transfixing soundscapes which are consistently leading you into another facet of Jorge Gomez’s dynamic elemental style.

The build-ups from the melodically tender Rock intro’s, especially with track 3, Hollow, is a journey you’re going to want to take time and time again.

There really is no overstating the level of skill exhibited in Beyond Blackened. It’s so much more than just technical ability. The artist’s talent when it comes to hooking you in from the intro and toying with your emotions and rhythmic pulses and psyche in equal measure right until the outro makes Beyond Blackened one of the most promising debuts we’ve heard in 2020.

You can check out Jorge Gomez’s EP for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Grindcore meets Sludge Metal in XMALCOLMX’s humanity damning single ‘MAN IS THE PREY’

Posted on 16 December 2020

Sludge Metal, Black Metal, Nu Metal and Grindcore all cataclysmically collide in the 2020 album from  XMALCOLMX, ‘MAN IS THE PREY’. Each track exhibits the Stockton, California-hailing artist’s experimental style which has set the benchmark for boundary-pushing within the DIY music scene of Northern California. If you want the best introduction to XMALCOLMX’s addictively visceral sound, hit play on the title single.

The progressive track kicks off with distorted trepidation and hostility before rhythm starts to break through the caustic sonic sludge and punky protestive vocals bounce along with the monumental progressions. With an aural curveball at every turn in the tight instrumentals and the vocals proving to be just as versatile, MAN IS THE PREY quickly entices you through the addictively rhythmic abrasive energy

You can check out MAN IS THE PREY along with the rest of XMALCOLMX’s sludgy masterpiece for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

When Dark – Madness: Stylistically Ensnaring Metalcore

Posted on 15 November 2020

Alt Rock trailblazers When Dark may have only made their inception in June 2020, but the collective of experienced artists brought all of their prowess to the aural table to form one of the most promising powerhouses currently contributing to the airwaves. Yeah, that includes Mr Bungle too.

Their latest single, Madness, perfectly captures that tempestuously frustrative state which you teeter on while on the brink of madness. Trent Holcomb’s vocals offer all the sniping rage you’d want to meet in a feisty high-octane Metal hit. More pertinently, the vocals affirm that their undiluted soul fell into the orchestration of their standout single.

With massive choruses which will catch in your throat alongside colossally visceral instrumental breakdowns, you really couldn’t ask for more from the darkly electrifying track. You hit play and you’re instantly left sharing in the ardent potency of the stylistically ensnaring release.

Any fans of Killswitch Engage, In Flames and As I Lay Dying will definitely appreciate this monstrous Metalcore gem.

You can catch When Dark’s track Madness via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast  

Caplaz – Ars Moriendi featuring Gabriele Lazzerini: Archaically Arcane Progressive Alt Rock

Posted on 7 June 2020

If your playlists are waiting for their next taste-breaker, it is our pleasure to introduce the obscurely indulgent latest single “Ars Moriendi” from Alternative artist Calpaz featuring Gabriele Lazzerini.

It’s easy to think you’ve heard it all when it comes to Progressive Rock and Metal. Then, a feat of raw ingenuity such as Ars Moriendi bleeds through your speakers. Any fans of Finntroll will undoubtedly approve.

The turbulent nature of the soundscape which blends everything from Folk Rock to Industrial Rock to Black Metal to Baroque Alt Pop may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but thanks to the archaically arcane feel of the track, we can’t help but get excited about Caplaz.

You can check out Caplaz’s single Ars Moriendi which was released on April 30th for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Conduit – Declaration: Unmissably Immersive Progressive Metal

Posted on 3 February 2020

“Declaration” is just one of the standout singles off the unmissably immersive Prog Metal album “ABRAXAS SHRINE” from The Conduit.

The term ‘powerhouse’ may get thrown around a lot in metal. But The Conduit’s ability to start off with a mellow Post Punk Indie Rock prelude and devilishly tease their way up to blast beats, caustic pig squeals and insanely technical guitar progressions makes them more than worthy of the accolade.

Declaration not only demands to be played at full volume so that you can drink in the full veracious energy of the track. But it also demands repeat attention to experience those seamless progressions once more.

At over eight minutes long, you may feel like you’re in it for the long haul when you hit play. But you’ll be more than happy with where their pioneering guttural ingenuity takes you with the symphonically transfixing outro.

You can check out Declaration for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Vandike – Unfaithful: A Weighted Masterpiece of Progressive Metal

Posted on 28 September 2018

“Unfaithful” is one of the latest singles from up and coming Prog Metal artist Vandike, if you like your riffs soaring and unpredictable you’ll find yourself in heaven with the intricate fretwork which allowed the weighted masterpiece to entice you through every second of the progression.

How it’s possible for an electric guitar, to convey such momentously sublime emotion without the need for vocals is quite frankly beyond me. You’re pulled along with the flawless melody in the same way you’d be enticed by symphony no. 11. Whilst that may all seem like high praise, with the relentless slides of the guitar through brief moments of ambience where the drum rhythms are able to resonate Unfaithful is a track which really speaks for itself. That’s without mentioning the arrestingly light piano melodies which are introduced as the track starts to draw to a close. Unfaithful is a composition which will have you guessing until the procession closes to a final draw.

You can check out Vandike’s latest single Unfaithful which was released September 2018 for yourself by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blue Midnight – Nightshade: Female-Fronted Progressive Metal

Posted on 16 September 2018

Whilst the prelude to Blue Midnight’s latest single Nightshade starts off as a polyphonic progression of 80’s synth nostalgia, when the track kicks into gear you’re left with a raucously crunchy anthem amplified by a stark contrast in vocals. If you could imagine a vocal style purer and more captivatingly innocent than Paramore’s Hayley Williams or the rest of the Alt-Rock female vocalists you’d almost be able to get an idea of the ethereally stunning harmony which bleeds from the vocals.

Through the instrumentals you’re treated to swathes of high-octane reverb which usually belongs in the Grunge arena, yet as the track draws to a close the instrumentals get stripped back to classical strings as you’re hit by the full weight behind the vocals. Yet that’s not quite as stunning as the guitar riffs that draw the track to a blinding close.

If female-fronted metal is your bag, you can check out Blue Midnight’s latest single Nightshade for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast