Ryorchestra – DMK

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

It’s already quite a year for Zeuhl and other types of avant-prog, with the due comeback of Japanese act 高円寺百景 (Kōenji Hyakkei) and their album ドリンビスカ (Dhorimviskha), French supergroup Piniol and their stellar album Bran coucou. Of note, there are also Moteur!, Protoplasma, and Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere for good measure. This is quite a crowded year for such a niche genre, and Ryorchestra is yet another voice that tries to be heard. DMK is the Japanese band’s debut album, and it was released in June without any promotion whatsoever, and … Read more

NOT MUSIC: Sludge Titan Potmos Hetoimos Premieres New Song, Goes In-Depth on Songwriting Process

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Since Heavy Blog Is Heavy labeled Potmos Hetoimos “Sludge Titans”, I can’t help but keep using this awesome moniker that well describes the vast catalogue and wild ambition of the project. Today, I’m glad to bring you the stream of a new song: “IV, B: Perseus, Pyrrhic”, and a thorough behind-the-sheets presentation of the music theory and artistry underlying Vox Medusae, by Matt Matheson himself.

In the following part, Matt describes the unusual scales that make up the album; a sort of leitmotiv recalling the grand operas where each character has its own distinct voice. … Read more

Autumn Creatures – Funeral Garden

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Autumn Creatures is not a new name, exactly. They’ve been around since at least 2013, but it’s through Funeral Garden that I’ve discovered them. The band is made up of a core of five musicians, and they are joined on this release by a string quartet, which gives a whole new depth to the band’s music.

The band plays an essentially instrumental sort of post-metal with keyboards adding to the usual “metal band” sound. On top of that, the string quartet appears here and there for extended periods of time where atmosphere supersedes riffs. What’s more, … Read more

Homonymous Face-Offs

by Dæv Tremblay

A band name is not always a unique characteristic. Sometimes, it’s just that it’s a rather common word, other times, it’s just a cool-sounding word, and some other times still it’s a bunch of independent underground acts that pick the same name not knowing others already used it. Sometimes, it can lead to confusion, and in extreme cases to legal procedures, but most of the times the bands simply decide to coexist and share the same name. Funnily enough, I’ve discovered more than one band trying to access another one’s page, just because it had the same name, so there … Read more

Zevious – Lowlands

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

The Zevious trio has something to tell with its music. With members from Dysrhythmia, Sabbath Assembly, and more, their album Lowlands is a real treat combining post-metal with elements of progressive rock and jazz, all instrumental.

Mike Eber’s guitar parts are versatile and well furnished so that there’s always something interesting from that part of the spectrum when you go through the album. Backing him is the rhythm section of drums and bass, which are also very proficient, energetic, and non-standard. So much so that when more standard parts come into play, as in “Smear Campaign”, … Read more