Before my recent NY/Baltimore adventure, I was hit up by a member of the Greek band Hostage of Fate to review his band's debut. Better late than never: At First Man Tried to Create God...and He Succeeded may be an unwieldy title, but gives a glimpse into the thought process behind the similarly complicated and tangent-riddled songwriting. The album is obviously home-recorded and the drums clearly programmed, but that's a minor quibble when the talent on display is equally obvious. Comparisons with fellow Greeks Rotting Christ may seem lazy, but there is an undeniable similarity to the early work of their countrymen. For melodic death metal fans with a taste for prog and/or ADD, this is solid and enjoyable. The seven track album is available as a "name your price" download.
When I left NY in 2002, some friends of mine formed an instrumental post-rock/experimental hardcore band Burbis. Burbis are sadly no more, but from their ashes came Lionel Pryor. Their second album Azhdahak is fired up, driving heavy prog that anyone who loves late-period Death, Cynic and Green Carnation should check out. I can't remember the last time an instrumental album made me headbang this much. The album is available from Bandcamp as a $7 digital download.
"Eclectic" is featured prominently in the bio of progressive metal band Azure Emote, and with operatic vocals, a violin and some theremin-like solos, that may be the best word to describe them. In case this all sounds like "death metal Mr. Bungle", fear not - The Gravity of Impermanence is more along the lines of later Cynic, Arcturus and other Jeff Wagner-friendly acts. The album is available through Bandcamp as an $8 digital download.
If a car crash between Godflesh, Red Harvest and the Dillinger Escape Plan sounds like your thing, then you should definitely make time for Scottish band Sectioned. On their Outlier EP, they do an impressive job of bridging the gap between DEP's spazziness and cold industrial minimalism. Highly recommended, especially as it's available as a "name your price" download.
Dreams of Consciousness likes metal that stimulates your frontal lobe. Also, shameless self promotion.
