Dreamgrave – Monuments, Part 1: The Anxious
Hungarian progressive metal band Dreamgrave have released the first part of their Monuments trilogy: The Anxious. The Mad and The Imperious are to be released nine to ten months apart. Their sound borrows a lot from progressive rock, with many a softer passage, laden with violins and soaring vocals, but the harsher metal nature of the band shows itself already on the second track, “Monuments”. It starts oozing of Diablo Swing Orchestra’s signature swing riffing with female vocals and violins accompanying the drums and bass foundation. Not too long afterwards, the riffs … Read more
Monthly Archives: November 2017
Monotrope – Unifying Receiver
Monotrope is an experimental progressive rock quartet from multiple American states, and they’ll be releasing their debut album, Unifying Receiver, on 10 November. The avant-rock release is entirely instrumental, and they take all the room they have available to make an interesting album. It’s full of diverse influences that coalesce into something that’s somewhere between post-metal and experimental math rock. Unifying Receiver is more contemplative than demonstrative – although there’s a soft balance between both aspects of the genre –, so it’s not something that will put you in awe at every turn, but the songs are cunningly crafted … Read more
Mammal Hands – Shadow Work
It has barely been a year and a half since Mammal Hands‘ album Floa was released – hint, we liked it –, yet, the British modern jazz trio is back with Shadow Work. Nearing fifty minutes in length, the album is, once again, a marvel of jazz music. Melodic and carefully crafted, their third release is a joy to behear. The piano and drums and saxophone trio is master at crafting memorable melodies on poignant progressions, with a firm grasp on the elusive art of tension and release, and a broad curiosity that leads to them incorporating sounds … Read more
EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Ilevens – “Transmitter”
Ilevens is the latest brainchild of microtonal musician Brendan Byrnes, of whom we’ve already praised the projects here on this website, and Transmitter is their debut EP. The concept of Ilevens, formerly known as 11ins, was to form a full microtonal pop/rock band, and the chosen system was 22 equal divisions of the octave. After many demos, under both the 11ins and Ilevens monikers, Transmitter is ready, with two brand new compositions – “Solavai” and “Transmitter” – and re-worked versions of their earlier songs. While the uncommon pitches will surprise more than one person, the psychedelic, progressive, pop-rock style in … Read more
Thantifaxath – Void Masquerading as Matter
Three years and a half after the release of their widely acclaimed debut album Sacred White Noise, Toronto’s progressive, mathematical, atmospheric black metal trio Thantifaxath is coming back with Void Masquerading as Matter. This four-track, thirty-six minutes EP sees the band expand the territories of their bleak kingdom with new ways of conveying rhythmically uncertain black metal. If they didn’t convince you yet with their debut full-length, – then, you’re a madman, but still… – this EP is certain to challenge your preconceived ideas on the genre and, at the very least, pique your interest. On top of … Read more