Metalcatto
Hi there! It’s about time we check what we’ve missed this year. We get thousands of promos, and some good stuff is bound to end up in the junk folder—or worse, just buried under all the PR. Anyway, I wanted to focus on the peculiar Prog music that hasn’t had as much attention as it should so far. Notice I’m just using the term “Prog” generally instead of “people who play wacky music that will demand a music degree from you.” But let’s stop wasting time and begin!
Jonhatan Tenerini – Noisy Shadows: I know, this looks more like a Jazz clinic than our usual heavy hammer, but give Noisy Shadows a chance. It’s an exquisite mix of Jazz and Prog Rock that will feel like a breath of fresh air for many of you. I could highlight the technical details or the excellent writing that reminds me of ’90s Prog, but the real protagonist of this instrumental journey is the production—more specifically, the drums. They have so much range. Everything is so clean and yet so organic in this album. Do you know the level of work it takes to achieve that? No, you don’t! That’s why I’m here to tell you. Listen to the album here!
Sylvie Fisichella – Takk: At MER, you’ve probably noticed we have a French bias. We do our best to keep it in check, but when I get an eclectic album that touches on Prog Rock, Jazz, and Norwegian Folk, you’re making it hard for me to be stoic. Because Takk is a sensitive effort that, despite not being exactly heavy, features outstanding writing—where you never know what the next track will bring. It could be a night ballad or a complex vocal game. It’s like taking all the soft parts of Dream Theater and staying away from the excesses. Remember when we reviewed Völur? Well, this is right there in terms of novelty. Listen to it here!
Acid Age – Perilous Compulsion: Before you panic and say we sold out, I bring you a Tech-Death/Thrash album that combines Atheist, Voivod, and Vektor into one fun display of technical aggression—without falling into the typical soulless production of the niche. I mean, when your closing track is named “Hamster Wheel”, you know that sanity has left the chat and you’re about to be hit with that Sadist energy. We need more quirky Prog Thrash, and Acid Age shows you can shred the heck out of your gear and still have silly fun in the process. How this band isn’t a bigger deal is a mystery to me, but we’re doing our part now. Listen to it here!
Now we’re done! I won’t do any long or intense outro this time—you’ll get plenty of those elsewhere. I’m just going to say that if you want to improve your chances of us writing about your work, there are options below! Cheers!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 