Band: Cloud People | Album: Simulacra | Genre: Progressive rock, Jazz-fusion | Bandcamp
This Norwegian sextet’s debut album is themed around conspiracy theories, and it’s a pretty fun listen. The music ranges from delicate and anxious to fairly heavy and aggressive. Bits of tinfoil-laden narration are woven into the music in a way that enhances the overall effect. I love the keyboard tones the band deploys, and saxophone is integrated wonderfully. Electronic elements are incorporated smoothly to give many cuts an edgy, sci-fi feel.
Score: 78/100
Band: Rhùn | Album: Tozzos | Genre: Zeuhl, Avant-prog | Bandcamp
Last year, Rhùn put out Tozïh, their second album, ten years after their debut, Ïh. Tozzos was recorded at the same time as Tozïh, but the band opted to wait and release two separate albums instead of one double album, and I’m glad they did. Tozzos is enjoyable, but it’s not on the same level as Tozïh. Here, the band incorporates more overt avant-garde influences, which aren’t always a success. The weirdest bits of acts like Frank Zappa and Samla Mammas Manna are difficult to synthesize, and while Rhùn mostly does a good job, significant swaths of this record come off as muddled and unfocused. I still enjoy this record overall, but there are some drawbacks to it.
Score: 70/100
Band: That Which Sleeps | Album: Two | Genre: Progressive metal, Math rock | Bandcamp
That Which Sleeps is back with their second EP, and I like it even more than their first. They’ve incorporated keyboards into their sound, and that added lushness elevates the music. It features King Crimson-inspired wiry guitars and metallic aggression, as well oddball jazz inclusions. The playing here is top-notch, and the songs’ structures are smart and engaging.
Score: 86/100
Band: Toe Hider | Album: Toad Hirer | Genre: Progressive metal | Bandcamp
Toad Hirer is the latest entry (as of writing) in one-man band Toe Hider’s “XII in XII” series, where he puts out one EP a month for a year. He’s done this before, and these releases, though usually fun, can also be spotty. The 18-minute single-song EP Toad Hirer is one of Toe Hider’s stronger EPs. This song features all the usual Toe Hider Hallmarks: it’s big, it’s loud, it’s dramatic, and it’s fun. The music is unashamedly maximalist, and there’s a bright sunniness to this composition. Everything flows together wonderfully.
Score: 75/100
Gand: Triton Project | Album: Messenger’s Quest | Genre: Progressive rock, Progressive metal | Bandcamp
Triton Project’s debut record is a long one. As in, it’s got two suites that top 20 minutes, and no song comes in under five. It’s 77 minutes long, and it feels a lot longer. This band seems to mostly be noteworthy for being from Thailand, which is not exactly a prog hotspot. And that’s not to say the music here isn’t good, per se. It’s simply 20 years behind the times. The music on Messenger’s Quest reminds me of Transatlantic, Octavarium-era Dream Theater, and other early ‘00s acts that straddled the line between prog rock and prog metal. It’s fine. It’s impressively played, and I’m not denying the band’s technical chops or ambition. It just falls into that same field as Nospūn. It’s decent, but it’s music I’ve heard before. They don’t bring enough new to the table to justify me spending money on this release. If you’re into big, cheesy progressive metal, you’ll probably like this, but it’s simply not my cup of tea.
Score: 62/100
Band: Wampus Milk Daddies | Album: Waiting in the Lobby | Genre: Progressive rock, Jazz-fusion | Bandcamp
The five songs on this band’s sophomore EP are a funky, groovy, eclectic collection of instrumentals. Brass instruments add richness and textural variety, and the drumming is fantastic. “Sandy” features some wonderfully weird rhythms complemented by an odd electric piano tone. The closing “Jada” is fun and jumpy.
Score: 77/100
The Elite Extremophile 