Only one week until we can listen to this sweet math rock album!

Irish math fusion act Alarmist are dropping their full-length debut, Popular Demain, on November 2, and at only one week away, my excitement is palpable. Of the two tracks currently available for streaming, we’re treated to some sweeping, cinematic jazz progressions supported by an arithmetical rhythmic core. At times it’s uplifting, yes, but in harmonically rich and complex ways characteristic of fusion. Think Jaga Jazzist meets Battles and you have a fairly good idea of what to expect. The album will be available on Bandcamp, where you can also check out their existing EPs.… Read more

Serious Beak – Ankaa, an overanalysis of

After their wildly acclaimed debut album “Huxwhukw” back in 2011, we didn’t hear much from Australia’s psychedelic progressive band Serious Beak. I was much delighted when they announced a sophomore album under the name of Ankaa and released a single for it, “Red (Laniocera hypopyrra)”.

First of all, “Ankaa”, from my best suppositions, comes from the Arabic العنقاء, al-ʿanqā’, which means “the phoenix”. Now, a Phoenix is a mythological bird related to the sun, and that lives cyclically. Ankaa is also a star, otherwise known as α Phoenicis, a rather common binary star that will … Read more

II II II working on a new album!

II II II, the experimental, jazz-mathcore band who brought us A Conundrum on My Coffee Table hit us, this week, with a so-called “Maaasssive 222 album preview”.

What can we expect? Judging by this instrumental, unfinished preview: more of the same, but enhanced, great music!

It seems that publishing that album preview has revived the creative fibre in the band, and that this album now “has to get finished”, according to a facebook comment from II II II themselves. So, when? I don’t know, but if? Certainly so! I’m pretty excited on this, and so should you!… Read more

August recommendations are here!

monthlyrecommendationsaugust

Here are four ctebcm-approved albums that came out last month and that we think you should definitely check out!

Michael AveryThe Scientist

Instrumental progressive metal heavily influence by djent that is actually not just a bunch of chugga-chugga’s and jun-jun’s, even though they are not underrepresented. It’s globally a fun album to listen and headbang to, with varied compositions and a fair amount of high-level musicianship! Plus: it’s available for name your price (NYP) on bandcamp so, why not give it a shot?

Doom SaladDac Maelc Yletulosbo

The fourth EP from Savannah’s experimental math rockers, … Read more

A new, live tune from Instrumental (adj.)!

Seeing all the guys play seated is a strange sight indeed, but I’m not one to mind at all. The new song, The Nightmare of Adulthood, is about 6 minutes long and will be on their EP that comes out November 10. These guys are really amazing to see play together and I can’t wait to jam their tunes on the EP!… Read more