Four debuts, a third and a fifth album: a strong release week!

Equipped with a plethora of other instruments in addition to a regular band set-up and a boundless musical imagination, Chicago based extreme avantgardists Fleshvessel have finally unleashed their debut full length “Yearning: Promethean Fates Sealed” via underground cult label I, Voidhanger Records. Three years after their surprise EP “Bile of Man Reborn”, which quickly gained cult status in certain circles, this monster of an album with four longtracks and three little interludes (“Vignette I – III”) is poised to follow that same fate. Running the full gamut of everything an avantgarde extreme metal album could offer – and more -, this is truly a work of art and not mere entertainment. To witness the various iterations the melodic main motif is going through in the masterful opener ‘Winter Came Early’ is worth the price of admission alone! Go grab yourself a nice vinyl or 6-panel Digipak CD on Bandcamp, they’re extremely limited and might sell out fast! Dario

Ridiculously complex, just as it’s relentlessly heavy in a sludgy, Mastodon-riffage heavy manner: The Gorge’s “Mechanical Fiction” is something like a bulldozer of finesse and intricacy. Opposites are stimulating and fueling the music of four jazz musicians who came together to create – an extreme metal album. Jazzcoresludge? The title track/interlude/segue into the grand finale wouldn’t be out of place on a 90s King Crimson album though and ‘Wraith’ concludes the 45 densely packed minutes with epicness, but until then it’s a pure technical sludge onslaught. Exhausting, but ultimately rewarding for any fan of complex heavy music. Dario

(Mostly) instrumental prog metal, solo edition: Sam Mooradian, most recently seen on stage playing live with progressive death metal heavyweights Fallujah and releasing a killer prog metal debut album with Boston based quartet Inhale Existence earlier this year, is presenting his debut solo album in the form of “Bad Brain”. Nine tracks spanning a wide range of influences, styles and moods, but firmly rooted in everything prog and (death) metal, the touches of the guest musicians from bands like Flub, The World Is Quiet Here, Aviations-pianist Blumen as well as Fallujah/Archaeologist vocalist Kyle Schaefer on the epic centerpiece ‘Assassin Mad’ all add their own distinct flavor while not distracting from Sam’s sonic vision, rather enhancing it. Chances are, if you’re a lover of guitar focused modern prog metal or a fan of any of the before mentioned bands, you’re going to love “Bad Brain”. But even if you haven’t heard about any of them you should risk an ear or two, you might just find something to your own liking on it. Dario

(Mostly) instrumental prog metal, band edition, presented by US based quintet Arch Echo. “Final Pitch” is their third album, and also features illustrious guests like Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Anthony Vincent (10-Second Songs), and Adrián Terrazas-González (The Mars Volta, T.R.A.M.). The band set themselves the goal to create music that is not only complex, but also accessible to the listener, delivered with passion and enthusiasm, and I’d say: Mission accomplished! By melting a broad variety of styles, from heavier metal parts over progrock to jazz and even synth pop, they released an entertaining, sparkling record, with the title track also offering a surprising vocal appearance. The performances of all musicians are as skillful as smooth, making the songs sound very lighthearted, even though the compositions are highly sophisticated. Fans of instrumental progrock fusion and related genres will find a lot to enjoy here. Katha

Instrumental prog metal, deadass funny and weird edition: We didn’t know what hit us when Bob’s review for Nuclear Power Trio’s debut EP, 2020’s “A Clear And Present Rage” quickly became our most read article for a long time. Maybe it was the unholy triumvirat of Trump, Putin and Kim-Jong Un who couldn’t believe how ridiculously handsome (and talented) the three musicians behind this project are and had to look it up a couple of thousand times… Jokes aside, their debut full length “Wet Ass Plutonium” is upon us and full to the brim with artistic musicianship and politically incorrect song titles (‘Nyetflix and Chill’ is my favorite!). If The Aristocrats get too, umm aristocratic for you, maybe it’s time to get your wet ass kicked by the Nuclear Power Trio! Dario

Is it just me, or is the number of impressive debuts really that large at the moment? In this context, I want to guide your ears towards London based powerhouse Lokust, who already caught some well-deserved attention with a pair of instrumental demo videos since their formation in 2017, but meanwhile grew into a strong five-piece and now unleash their first album: “Infidel”. Sitting somewhere between thrash, metalcore and (melodic / tech) death metal, they offer a modern sounding, high-energetic record. While the guitar work is furious, the bass hard-hitting, and the drums aggressively pushing, the 11 tracks nevertheless come along groovy and accessible. Vocal-wise, we can hear a mix of mighty growls, screams, and clean singing, and there’s enough variety in their song-writing to keep things interesting over the 51 minutes of playing time. The massive yet detailed production makes “Infidel” a great listening fun, especially when played loud! But beware, your living room could turn into a mosh pit quickly 😉 Katha