Most of the time, the "tech" in my "Tech Tuesday" posts is shorthand for "technical metal", usually of the "technical death metal" variety. But we all know that technical proficiency doesn't have to be all 200bpm blast beats and sweeps, right? Sometimes, just sometimes, stuff other than straight-up metal can have chops for days.
OK, so maybe when you're the guys in Scale the Summit "sometimes" is more like "all the time" but I think you get where I'm going with this. Scale the Summit isn't always "heavy" in a traditional metal sense, but they do always bring their instrumental A-game, and when you're looking for something a little less crushing that'll still impress, they should be near the top of your list.
Even better, Chris and the guys seem to be cranking it out like clockwork the last couple of years, with a pretty stable two-year release schedule going all the way back to their self-released 2007 debut record Monument. The band's latest and fifth album V presents yet another collection of soaring and proggy adventure metal, but for your Tech Tuesday song this week I'm going with intricate affair "Oort Cloud" -- that little bass solo starting about three minutes in should be enough to get you through even the longest journey through space all by itself.
Showing posts with label V. Show all posts
Showing posts with label V. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
Tuesday, 15 September 2015
Saturday: Scale the Summit - Blue Sun
Most of Scale the Summit's material, especially their newer stuff, is heavy in a more chill and laid-back kind of way, if at all. The band's latest single seems tailor-made for reminding us that the guys can still lay down some riffage.
Indeed, guitarist Chris Lecthford has said in so many words that "Blue Sun" is aimed at those who're also on the hunt for more shred. Even at their most laid back, Scale the Summit's chops are always on display, so something even shreddier and, yes, a little heavier -- even if the chill vibe is still very much in evidence -- pretty much has to turn things up to eleven, right? Check it out and see for yourself.
Indeed, guitarist Chris Lecthford has said in so many words that "Blue Sun" is aimed at those who're also on the hunt for more shred. Even at their most laid back, Scale the Summit's chops are always on display, so something even shreddier and, yes, a little heavier -- even if the chill vibe is still very much in evidence -- pretty much has to turn things up to eleven, right? Check it out and see for yourself.
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Scale the Summit - Kestral
The new music train continues on this Tuesday evening with the latest track to be released from the upcoming record V by Scale the Summit, and this one has me thinking Starcraft.
Seem like a weird mental association to make to you? Well the laid-back, guitar-driven instrumental vibe of "Kestral" starts out with some lead lines and chord progressions that remind me a whole bunch of the jazzy Terran music. And while this one does eventually get around to slaying pretty solidly -- the last couple of minutes feature some excellently shreddy goodness -- those first couple of sections remind me pretty hard of the supply depot-laying calm before the storm of a Starcraft match. "Kestral" sounds like it might be a highlight of V, but fingers cross that everything's this good.
Seem like a weird mental association to make to you? Well the laid-back, guitar-driven instrumental vibe of "Kestral" starts out with some lead lines and chord progressions that remind me a whole bunch of the jazzy Terran music. And while this one does eventually get around to slaying pretty solidly -- the last couple of minutes feature some excellently shreddy goodness -- those first couple of sections remind me pretty hard of the supply depot-laying calm before the storm of a Starcraft match. "Kestral" sounds like it might be a highlight of V, but fingers cross that everything's this good.
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
Sunday: Scale the Summit - Stolas
So you like the idea of instrumental post-whatever like "yesterday's" In Each Hand a Cutlass post, but you're not sold yet on their particular brand of prog. Why not try something else, courtesy of one of the biggest names in the sub-genre.
We've been getting teases -- artwork and the like, mostly -- of the new Scale the Summit album for a while now, but earlier this week we got our first solid taste in the form of single and accompanying video "Stolas". It's nothing earthshattering, music-wise, but it is yet another example of Scale's ability to craft intricate, technically proficient instrumental prog that's still laid-back, replete with groove, and never overly showy. Plus, "Stolas" has a fun, 80's hair metal-style parody video, and it's always good to see someone do something with their videos that isn't just lyrics, band-in-a-room, or some combination of the two.
We'll have to wait until September for the full V experience, but if "Stolas" and the cover art can be believe, the force remains strong with Scale the Summit. Check it out.
We've been getting teases -- artwork and the like, mostly -- of the new Scale the Summit album for a while now, but earlier this week we got our first solid taste in the form of single and accompanying video "Stolas". It's nothing earthshattering, music-wise, but it is yet another example of Scale's ability to craft intricate, technically proficient instrumental prog that's still laid-back, replete with groove, and never overly showy. Plus, "Stolas" has a fun, 80's hair metal-style parody video, and it's always good to see someone do something with their videos that isn't just lyrics, band-in-a-room, or some combination of the two.
We'll have to wait until September for the full V experience, but if "Stolas" and the cover art can be believe, the force remains strong with Scale the Summit. Check it out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)