It’s been nearly four years since the release of this monster, and it’s about time we were treated to a new studio album from the UK’s finest Prog tech metallers. They have been around since 2003, and it was with the arrival of Djent into the musical landscape that they emerged on a somewhat stale metal scene.
Opening track, Luminary, has the band’s customary low end groove mixed with the beauty of Dan Tompkins’ vocals. The dynamics of the music are off the charts for me. Superbly written and played, and the production is killer – that low end is bowel vibrating. They seem to be the only band that still have the Djenty moments, as all the other bands of their ilk have almost dropped the sound completely. It first makes an appearance in the absolute epic track, King. It’s such a killer tune that has everything that a Prog metal fan would drool over. The ambient tones of Orbital follow, and this is the complete opposite of what has just been a beautiful interlude. The low end pound returns with Juno with a ripping djenty chop groove – it’s almost funk.
The clean tones of Dan’s voice compliment the sounds so beautifully. Beneath My Skin starts off slow with the ambient grooves before the most unreal rhythm and groove takes over. It’s an amazing track! Mirror Image is next and its all about Dan’s vocals – the atmospheric tones of the music allow the vocals to soar over the top. Smile is the perfect mix of the ambient and the heavy groove together. Just listen to the drum pattern – it’s awesome – and the song definitely brings the heavy to the party. An amazing album from a band I really love.
10/10 all day every day from The Grooveman.
