Enough synthy silliness. Metal Monday? Metal Monday.
I've said it (or something similar) before, and I'll say it (or something similar) again: Montreal's Beyond Creation are monsters of technical, progressive metal. Even the departure of bassist Dominic Lapointe earlier in the year does little to diminish their awesomeness. We haven't gotten the chance to hear new bassist Hugo Doyon-Karout on Beyond Creation material yet, but if new stuff is anything like "Fundamental Process" from last year's phenomenal Earthborn Evolution (for which the band has recently released a video) Hugo would be doing something. Put this one on and prepare for your jaw to hit new lows for nearly eight minutes of technical, progressive death metal.
Showing posts with label Beyond Creation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beyond Creation. Show all posts
Friday, 10 July 2015
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Brought By Pain - Guided By Fear
It's been less than a week since we learned that phenomenal Canadian tech-death-prog band Beyond Creation have parted ways with their monster of a bassist Dominic Lapointe, but we're already getting some news that should cheer us up: Dominic's replacement has already been lined up.
Now, before you go saying that whoever steps in to handle Beyond Creation's low end has some stupidly big shoes to fill, I urge you to check out today's song. I've even picked a playthrough video version of it, just so you can marvel both aurally and visually at the fleet-fingered bass work of one Hugo Doyon-Karout, bassist for another Montreal tech-death band, Brought By Pain.
"Guided By Fear" comes from the band's 2011 album The Dreamer's Will, and it's a concise little slice of everything you might want in your technically proficient death metal: fast and furious riffing, sphincter-tight drumming, and nightmare-inducing vocals. Most importantly, at least as far as this discussion of bass duties in Beyond Creation is concerned, it fully demonstrates just how in command of his instrument Hugo is. Domonic set a pretty high bar for Beyond Creation bass work, but it sounds like things are going to be in very capable hands going forward.
Now, before you go saying that whoever steps in to handle Beyond Creation's low end has some stupidly big shoes to fill, I urge you to check out today's song. I've even picked a playthrough video version of it, just so you can marvel both aurally and visually at the fleet-fingered bass work of one Hugo Doyon-Karout, bassist for another Montreal tech-death band, Brought By Pain.
"Guided By Fear" comes from the band's 2011 album The Dreamer's Will, and it's a concise little slice of everything you might want in your technically proficient death metal: fast and furious riffing, sphincter-tight drumming, and nightmare-inducing vocals. Most importantly, at least as far as this discussion of bass duties in Beyond Creation is concerned, it fully demonstrates just how in command of his instrument Hugo is. Domonic set a pretty high bar for Beyond Creation bass work, but it sounds like things are going to be in very capable hands going forward.
Friday, 6 February 2015
2014 Round-up: Loud Noises Ten Best of 2014
Well wouldn't you know it, 2015 is quickly slipping away from us, which means it's time I'd better get my shit together and get on with the Loud Noises 2014 Round-Up. And only a month or so late! As usual, we're going to start things off with a few of my favourite albums from the year that was 2014 (let's say around ten or so...), presented in no particular order.
- Job for a Cowboy - Sun Eater
This one not only warrants a spot on this list of ten great albums from 2014, it's also a front-runner for Biggest Surprise of the Year. You see, I never used to think much of Job for a Cowboy. I don't know what it was about their first couple of albums, but I wasn't really a fan and more or less wrote the band off in my head. I really only checked out Sun Eater on the strength of the first couple of tracks Job for a Cowboy released from it, but I've been pleasantly and thoroughly surprised to discover that Job for a Cowboy has become a pretty badass death metal band with just the right amount of technicality and even some proggy highlights applied here and there. Sun Eater slays, and it should be enough to convince anyone sitting on the Job for a Cowboy fence which side they should come down on.
- Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No.
Given metal's traditional, even stereotypical, popularity in places like Scandinavia and northern Europe, I guess I shouldn't be surprised in 2015 that there are so many kickass bands doing their thing in so many different places around the world. Maybe someday the novelty of learning metal isn't a strictly North American phenomenon will wear off, but for the time being I still find myself perhaps unduly excited every time I learn about a band somewhere else doing something just as awesome as what's going on right here at home. Case in point: Italy's Destrage, an incredibly talented band that doesn't let its high energy, frenetic riffing get in the way of its songwriting. Think a somewhat more metal Protest the Hero with the vein of spastic madness turned up to levels closer to Dillinger Escape Plan and you'll be approaching the right track. Are You Kidding Me? No. is a masterpiece, and I can't wait to hear whatever's next from Destrage.
- Killitorous - Party, Grind
If you've been following along for any length of time now, you've likely picked up on the fact that my tastes, while pretty diverse, tend towards the proggier end of the spectrum. But I do so loves me some death metal, especially when it's fast and techy, which is why Killitorous' Party, Grind hit such a sweet spot for me. I crowdfunded this one on a whim and the strength of one single, and boy was I gratified when my copy came in the mail and fucking killed. Party, Grind is fast and ferocious from start to finish, with enough trem picking, arpeggio sweeping, and blast beating to satisfy any tech-death aficionado. That Killitorous are Canadian is just gravy. A sophomore disc from these guys will be something to watch out for.
- Fallujah - The Flesh Prevails
Going into 2014, it was a pretty safe bet that big things were in store for San Francisco's Fallujah. They weren't exactly newcomers to the scene, but they were getting a newcomer kind of buzz for their 2013 EP Nomadic. Then when The Flesh Prevails dropped, the johnny-come-latelies like me all learned that the buzz was well deserved. In The Flesh Prevails Fallujah served up a major slab of dense and atmospheric progressive post-death metal. They managed to take what is clearly some incredible musicianship and make a record that translates all of it into intensity and none of it into showy excess. There's a lot here to digest, but the dedicated listener is most definitely rewarded with a modern classic.
- Closure in Moscow - Pink Lemonade
As much as I got into Pink Lemonade in 2014 (which was a lot), it's definitely a grower and not a shower, if you take my meaning. Fans of Closure in Moscow expecting the band's next disc to sound more or less like First Temple kicked up a notch or two are likely to have been a little turned off by the spaced-out prog rock that is Pink Lemonade, at least initially. The open-minded listener, however, was rewarded with a Mars Voltian jazz funk adventure that spans a whole fistful of genres. Post-hardcore, post-rock -- Pink Lemonade is post-whatever you can think of. Metal purists should think twice before they look down their nose at this one.
- Raiju - Haunt
I've posted about songs from this album a couple of times in the last little bit, so you should already have an idea why these guys have a spot on this list. Just in case you don't: take the punk-metal-influenced shreddy riffing of Protest the Hero, mix in the proggy, groovy low end of Periphery, add a dash of slick pop-prog from somebody like Coheed and Cambria, and you've got yourself a rough sketch of Raiju. Comparisons between Raiju and bands like those I just mentioned are especially appropriate given vocalist Scott Wagner's impressive vocal range. Raiju is another one of those bands whose sophomore should be absolutely epic if their freshman effort is any indication.
- Wake - Hail the Sun
When I was younger, we might well have called Wake and their debut LP Hail the Sun emo or screamo or something like that, earnestly at first and then perhaps derogatorily a little later on once we'd grown into our more metal listening habits. These days the catch-all term "post-hardcore" might be employed in polite company (although screamo is probably still the denigrating term of choice among genre naysayers). Whatever way you want to slice things, label-wise, Hail the Sun is an energetic, varied, vaguely poppy, vaguely techy record in the vein of bands like Dance Gavin Dance. More than that, though, I'd call it one of the best examples of "screamo" to come out in years (Dance Gavin Dance included).
- Opeth - Pale Communion
The last couple of Opeth records have been pretty polarizing for longtime fans of the band. Some have embraced the band's shift away from its death metal roots, while others have wholeheartedly rejected it. Luckily for me, I've been in the former camp since the electric/acoustic yin-yang of the Deliverance/Damnation double album, and I've listened to each new Opeth record fully expecting and accepting that we're not getting another Blackwater Park -- and that that's perfectly OK. If you're willing to concede that point and go into Pale Communion with that in mind, you'll discover a straight-up rock-solid prog record. Watershed is still my favourite of Opeth's less-metal offerings, but Pale Communion is definitely the strongest of their last couple.
- Archspire - The Lucid Collective
Technical death metal is in a good place at the opening of 2015, and there were a number of really solid albums in this genre last year that could arguably warrant a spot on my list of favourite albums from 2014. I've already mentioned one of them in Killitorous' killer debut LP Party, Grind and awesomely enough my next selection is also an act from the Great White North. Vancouver's Archspire adorn their merch with the slogan "Stay Tech", and a listen or two to their 2014 disc The Lucid Collective should demonstrate that they've got the chops to back it up. Machine gun-quick vocals, fretboard acrobatics, and light-speed drumming all line up just right on this one. Fans of the genre would be greatly remiss if they didn't check this one out.
- Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution
Last bust most certainly not least, I'm rounding out my list of 2014 favourites with another phenomenal album of technically proficient, compositionally progressive death metal from yet another badass Canadian band. I might, of course, be just a little bit biased, but I don't think you need to be to recognize the towering mountain of proggy death metal that Montreal's Beyond Creation have crafted for us in Earthborn Evolution. Dominic Lapointe's absolutely ridiculous bass work is worth the price of admission all by itself, to say nothing of the laser-precise performances of all involved. There's maybe a shade less sheer speed here than, say, Archspire or Killitorous, but the musicianship is so top-notch that it's hard to be anything but bewildered by this one.
And there you have it: another year, another ten kickass albums. As usual, narrowing the crowded field of good records from last year down to ten of my favourites wasn't easy, but I hope my making the tough calls means that, when deciding what to put on next, you won't have to.
I've got another couple of 2014 Round-Up posts planned, which hopefully won't take until spring to finish up, so stay tuned.
- Job for a Cowboy - Sun Eater
This one not only warrants a spot on this list of ten great albums from 2014, it's also a front-runner for Biggest Surprise of the Year. You see, I never used to think much of Job for a Cowboy. I don't know what it was about their first couple of albums, but I wasn't really a fan and more or less wrote the band off in my head. I really only checked out Sun Eater on the strength of the first couple of tracks Job for a Cowboy released from it, but I've been pleasantly and thoroughly surprised to discover that Job for a Cowboy has become a pretty badass death metal band with just the right amount of technicality and even some proggy highlights applied here and there. Sun Eater slays, and it should be enough to convince anyone sitting on the Job for a Cowboy fence which side they should come down on.
- Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No.
Given metal's traditional, even stereotypical, popularity in places like Scandinavia and northern Europe, I guess I shouldn't be surprised in 2015 that there are so many kickass bands doing their thing in so many different places around the world. Maybe someday the novelty of learning metal isn't a strictly North American phenomenon will wear off, but for the time being I still find myself perhaps unduly excited every time I learn about a band somewhere else doing something just as awesome as what's going on right here at home. Case in point: Italy's Destrage, an incredibly talented band that doesn't let its high energy, frenetic riffing get in the way of its songwriting. Think a somewhat more metal Protest the Hero with the vein of spastic madness turned up to levels closer to Dillinger Escape Plan and you'll be approaching the right track. Are You Kidding Me? No. is a masterpiece, and I can't wait to hear whatever's next from Destrage.
- Killitorous - Party, Grind
If you've been following along for any length of time now, you've likely picked up on the fact that my tastes, while pretty diverse, tend towards the proggier end of the spectrum. But I do so loves me some death metal, especially when it's fast and techy, which is why Killitorous' Party, Grind hit such a sweet spot for me. I crowdfunded this one on a whim and the strength of one single, and boy was I gratified when my copy came in the mail and fucking killed. Party, Grind is fast and ferocious from start to finish, with enough trem picking, arpeggio sweeping, and blast beating to satisfy any tech-death aficionado. That Killitorous are Canadian is just gravy. A sophomore disc from these guys will be something to watch out for.
- Fallujah - The Flesh Prevails
Going into 2014, it was a pretty safe bet that big things were in store for San Francisco's Fallujah. They weren't exactly newcomers to the scene, but they were getting a newcomer kind of buzz for their 2013 EP Nomadic. Then when The Flesh Prevails dropped, the johnny-come-latelies like me all learned that the buzz was well deserved. In The Flesh Prevails Fallujah served up a major slab of dense and atmospheric progressive post-death metal. They managed to take what is clearly some incredible musicianship and make a record that translates all of it into intensity and none of it into showy excess. There's a lot here to digest, but the dedicated listener is most definitely rewarded with a modern classic.
- Closure in Moscow - Pink Lemonade
As much as I got into Pink Lemonade in 2014 (which was a lot), it's definitely a grower and not a shower, if you take my meaning. Fans of Closure in Moscow expecting the band's next disc to sound more or less like First Temple kicked up a notch or two are likely to have been a little turned off by the spaced-out prog rock that is Pink Lemonade, at least initially. The open-minded listener, however, was rewarded with a Mars Voltian jazz funk adventure that spans a whole fistful of genres. Post-hardcore, post-rock -- Pink Lemonade is post-whatever you can think of. Metal purists should think twice before they look down their nose at this one.
- Raiju - Haunt
I've posted about songs from this album a couple of times in the last little bit, so you should already have an idea why these guys have a spot on this list. Just in case you don't: take the punk-metal-influenced shreddy riffing of Protest the Hero, mix in the proggy, groovy low end of Periphery, add a dash of slick pop-prog from somebody like Coheed and Cambria, and you've got yourself a rough sketch of Raiju. Comparisons between Raiju and bands like those I just mentioned are especially appropriate given vocalist Scott Wagner's impressive vocal range. Raiju is another one of those bands whose sophomore should be absolutely epic if their freshman effort is any indication.
- Wake - Hail the Sun
When I was younger, we might well have called Wake and their debut LP Hail the Sun emo or screamo or something like that, earnestly at first and then perhaps derogatorily a little later on once we'd grown into our more metal listening habits. These days the catch-all term "post-hardcore" might be employed in polite company (although screamo is probably still the denigrating term of choice among genre naysayers). Whatever way you want to slice things, label-wise, Hail the Sun is an energetic, varied, vaguely poppy, vaguely techy record in the vein of bands like Dance Gavin Dance. More than that, though, I'd call it one of the best examples of "screamo" to come out in years (Dance Gavin Dance included).
- Opeth - Pale Communion
The last couple of Opeth records have been pretty polarizing for longtime fans of the band. Some have embraced the band's shift away from its death metal roots, while others have wholeheartedly rejected it. Luckily for me, I've been in the former camp since the electric/acoustic yin-yang of the Deliverance/Damnation double album, and I've listened to each new Opeth record fully expecting and accepting that we're not getting another Blackwater Park -- and that that's perfectly OK. If you're willing to concede that point and go into Pale Communion with that in mind, you'll discover a straight-up rock-solid prog record. Watershed is still my favourite of Opeth's less-metal offerings, but Pale Communion is definitely the strongest of their last couple.
- Archspire - The Lucid Collective
Technical death metal is in a good place at the opening of 2015, and there were a number of really solid albums in this genre last year that could arguably warrant a spot on my list of favourite albums from 2014. I've already mentioned one of them in Killitorous' killer debut LP Party, Grind and awesomely enough my next selection is also an act from the Great White North. Vancouver's Archspire adorn their merch with the slogan "Stay Tech", and a listen or two to their 2014 disc The Lucid Collective should demonstrate that they've got the chops to back it up. Machine gun-quick vocals, fretboard acrobatics, and light-speed drumming all line up just right on this one. Fans of the genre would be greatly remiss if they didn't check this one out.
- Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution
Last bust most certainly not least, I'm rounding out my list of 2014 favourites with another phenomenal album of technically proficient, compositionally progressive death metal from yet another badass Canadian band. I might, of course, be just a little bit biased, but I don't think you need to be to recognize the towering mountain of proggy death metal that Montreal's Beyond Creation have crafted for us in Earthborn Evolution. Dominic Lapointe's absolutely ridiculous bass work is worth the price of admission all by itself, to say nothing of the laser-precise performances of all involved. There's maybe a shade less sheer speed here than, say, Archspire or Killitorous, but the musicianship is so top-notch that it's hard to be anything but bewildered by this one.
And there you have it: another year, another ten kickass albums. As usual, narrowing the crowded field of good records from last year down to ten of my favourites wasn't easy, but I hope my making the tough calls means that, when deciding what to put on next, you won't have to.
I've got another couple of 2014 Round-Up posts planned, which hopefully won't take until spring to finish up, so stay tuned.
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Tuesday: Beyond Creation - Theatrical Delirium
Tech Tuesday might be a little late, but don't you worry, I've got a doozy for you courtesy of one of 2014's best progressive death metal records (hint hint...). Oh, and bass players, prepare to feel inadequate.
I've featured Montreal's Beyond Creation before, but last year's Earthborn Evolution is so solid that I can't help but give them another day in the sun. Now, a bunch of tracks on that record have a bunch of shit going for them, but "Theatrical Delirium" gets the nod today (or yesterday...) for basically one reason: Dominic Lapointe's basswork. You want a masterclass on how bass playing in modern progressive metal should be done? Pull up a chair, some headphones, and something to conceal your impending shredding-induced erection, because you're going to want all three.
I've featured Montreal's Beyond Creation before, but last year's Earthborn Evolution is so solid that I can't help but give them another day in the sun. Now, a bunch of tracks on that record have a bunch of shit going for them, but "Theatrical Delirium" gets the nod today (or yesterday...) for basically one reason: Dominic Lapointe's basswork. You want a masterclass on how bass playing in modern progressive metal should be done? Pull up a chair, some headphones, and something to conceal your impending shredding-induced erection, because you're going to want all three.
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
Beyond Creation - Omnipresent Perception
Just because I used up a tech-death song yesterday doesn't mean I'm out of ammo for Tech-Death Tuesday. And if today's band keeps on keeping on, I'll have prog-flavoured tech-death ammo for a long time to come.
Better still? Beyond Creation are from right here in Canada. Yeah, OK, La Belle Province may not always relish its membership in confederation, but that's not going to stop me from claiming Dominic Lapointe's absolutely phenomenal fretless bass work in today's song for the Great White North. As the kids these days are saying, "dat bass tho!"
Discover why I'm suddenly such a proud Canadian by checking out "Omnipresent Perception" from the band's 2012 debut The Aura, and then sit back and bask in the fact that Beyond Creation's upcoming sophomore effort Earthborn Evolution is only weeks away. Ah yes, life as a Canadian fan of stupidly technical metal is good.
Better still? Beyond Creation are from right here in Canada. Yeah, OK, La Belle Province may not always relish its membership in confederation, but that's not going to stop me from claiming Dominic Lapointe's absolutely phenomenal fretless bass work in today's song for the Great White North. As the kids these days are saying, "dat bass tho!"
Discover why I'm suddenly such a proud Canadian by checking out "Omnipresent Perception" from the band's 2012 debut The Aura, and then sit back and bask in the fact that Beyond Creation's upcoming sophomore effort Earthborn Evolution is only weeks away. Ah yes, life as a Canadian fan of stupidly technical metal is good.
Saturday, 30 August 2014
Beyond Creation - Neurotical Transmissions
Thank the gods it's Friday, even if it's only for another ten minutes or so (at the time of starting this post; no guarantees about end time...). I don't know what you're week has been like, but let's assume you've put in your time and deserve to rage for the long weekend. This one's for you.
About a month ago I featured the first single from Earthborn Evolution, the latest record from Montreal tech-death band Beyond Creation. Well, the band has put out another badass track, and they're just too awesome (and too Canadian) not to feature again.
"Neurotical Transmissions" is a pummeling slice of sludgy space teach death, built around a collection of low, snaky riffs that remain labyrinthine and articulated rather than sounding muddy and indistinct. Mix in some tasty leads and you've exhibit B in the court case for why Earthborn Evolution should be killer.
About a month ago I featured the first single from Earthborn Evolution, the latest record from Montreal tech-death band Beyond Creation. Well, the band has put out another badass track, and they're just too awesome (and too Canadian) not to feature again.
"Neurotical Transmissions" is a pummeling slice of sludgy space teach death, built around a collection of low, snaky riffs that remain labyrinthine and articulated rather than sounding muddy and indistinct. Mix in some tasty leads and you've exhibit B in the court case for why Earthborn Evolution should be killer.
Monday, 28 July 2014
Beyond Creation - Elusive Reverence
It's the start of another week, which means you could probably use something a little heavy to get you back into the swing of the grind. How about some proggy death metal from Montreal that's in the vein of Death and Cynic? Yeah, I thought you might like that.
Beyond Creation are getting set to unleash their sophomore record Earthborn Evolution in October via Season of Mist, but you won't have to wait until then to sample the proggy wares on offer here, as the band has recently released the first track from the upcoming album.
"Elusive Reverence" a terrific general example of techy progressive death metal done right, but especially noteworthy is the fretless basswork of one Dominic Forest Lapointe, whose playing will no doubt cause you to become familiar with his name if you're not already. His musicianship, and that of the rest of the band, is top notch without being unnecessarily over the top. There's no waste or wankery here, and one listen to "Elusive Reverence" should be enough to convince you of that.
Beyond Creation are getting set to unleash their sophomore record Earthborn Evolution in October via Season of Mist, but you won't have to wait until then to sample the proggy wares on offer here, as the band has recently released the first track from the upcoming album.
"Elusive Reverence" a terrific general example of techy progressive death metal done right, but especially noteworthy is the fretless basswork of one Dominic Forest Lapointe, whose playing will no doubt cause you to become familiar with his name if you're not already. His musicianship, and that of the rest of the band, is top notch without being unnecessarily over the top. There's no waste or wankery here, and one listen to "Elusive Reverence" should be enough to convince you of that.
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