The Monolith Deathcult-Tetragrammaton review

If you are a regular reader here, you know that we cover extreme music sometimes.  Although I generally not a fan of music this extreme, it goes without saying that I am a big fan of The Monolith Deathcult (TMDC).

This Dutch extreme Avant-Garde metal band is exciting to listen to.  Each album they have released has been markedly better than the last.  That TMDC takes up to five years to conceive, write, and record their music should tell you something about the quality of the recordings.  This is a band that is as much educational as it is entertaining.  They don't just reference historical events and cultures in their music; such themes embody and even dominate the music.

At times oddly cheesy, the band is nothing if not creative.  "Tetragrammaton" takes the creativity and unusual song structures and multiplies them by introducing symphonic and industrial elements to provide atmosphere.  TMDC has also shown that they don't shy away from including samples from various sources of media.  For instance, the first track, God Among Insects, opens with Bill Pullman asking "Can there be a peace between us?"  The alien then answers ,"No peace."  Independence Day seems to be the basis of the song.  As it closes, we hear Pullman asking the alien what it is they want us to do.  And the alien answers. 

This opening track also features TMDC's lead singer narrating a quote from the 1979 movie Caligula.  The following track includes a repeated sample from Rules of Engagement.  Yet another track references Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a dream' speech.

Now that we have some references and background out of the way, let me talk about the music, which is why you are reading in the first place.  "Tetragrammaton" is an intense record.  In addition to the aforementioned elements, the band incorporates razor-sharp riffing, a furnace of blast beats, infectious melodies, and blistering guitar solos.  The vocals are at times hair-raising, ranging from crisp howls to sickeningly guttural growls. 

This music is not metal for the faint of heart, but it is very good.  As anticipated as this album was, I find it difficult to keep off the 'top metal of 2013' list.  Check out God Among Insects below.  As always, thanks for reading and enjoy!

Leprous-Coal review

For the second straight day we have a new music review for you!  Today we're going to look at some music decidedly different than what we heard yesterday. 

Inside Out Music recently released the new album from Norwegian prog-rockers Leprous.  Inside Out is who brought us the latest Devin Townsend album, as well as Geoff Tate's latest, so they already had an impressive pedigree.

As the saying goes, this ain't Leprous' first rodeo.  "Coal" sees them improved dramatically over their last effort.  I'm not always a big fan of progressive rock and metal, so when I hear something I like it is notable.  Leprous is not your average, run-of-the-mill prog band.  As a matter of fact, they are described as Avant-Garde more often than pure prog.  While the two subgenres do have a lot in common, Avant-Garde metal uses more experimental sounds and song structures.  Leprous are quite adept at experimentation.  They use unconventional grooves and soundscapes in repetition with standard metallic riffs to create a very interesting sound.

"Coal" came completely out of left field this year, and many metal bloggers are already placing it in year-end lists.  That should say something about how impressive this music is.

Hooky rhythms combine here with somber melodies and grandiose flourishes of atmosphere.  Few bands manage to pull off this feat with such aplomb, which should earn Leprous more credit. 
If I were to compare Leprous to more-established bands, Queensryche and Dream Theater would be at the top of the list. 

In short, get this disc.  It is a very, very good listen.  Check out the lead single, Chronic, below.  As always, thanks and enjoy!