Metal Reviews

Man, Sensory/Laser's Edge is quickly becoming a label that I totally believe in. If they say it's prog-metal, but also heavy, I'm a fucking believer. Zero Hour, of course, being the band that first introduced me to the label. Then came Redemption, Spiral Architect, Circus Maximus and most recently Degree Absolute. Each band killer. Each band exactly as Sensory described. No bullshit trickery.

So earlier today I'm perusing the music store next to where I'm taking a real estate course and I see this random band called Wastefall in the Misc W section. The sticker says they're a heavy prog-metal band from Greece. Interesting. The cover looks cool. I flip it over...BAM!...Sensory! SOLD!

Once again this label delivers the goods! This is for fans (noodles) of those bands I mentioned above. This shit is heavy and proggy, but not self-indulgent where you get lost trying to follow the song. The songs are definitely proggy with that seemingly discordant instrumentation that somehow contradicts itself and mixes seemlessly, and it's also damn catchy. No instrumentals either except for maybe the short Dead Can Dance-like intro, but that's chanting. I've listened once and was very impressed. They have three albums total, this album I bought, Self Exile, is their latest. Check them out:

"The Muzzle Affection" is easily the worst song on the album, not sure why this is the only available to hear online (probably because they think the chick may attract the Evanescence crowd or something lame like that). It's still very good, though. I've included another song (yousendit), which I think represents the album better. It's a badass tune!

From Self Exile (2006):

THE MUZZLE AFFECTION
E. Y. E.

From Soulrain 21 (2004):

EMPTY HAVEN
STUNNED TO THE WORLD
LESSER
SELF-EXTINCTION PROJECT

From Falling Stars And Rising Scars (2003):

KILLING OF WOLVES
APRIL'S RUIN (add the apostrophe in the word "april's" in the link, apostrophes fuck up the BB code)

Website: http://www.wastefall.com

great find. The clips are really cool. I get an early Pain of Salvation (Enropia, OHBTCL) vibe from the guitars. Def. A band that I will pick up.

"Atchoo!"
"Bless you!"

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Good band, listening to all the tracks in order...

Listen to "E. Y. E.", am I hearing the singer from Kamelot in this guy? He reminds me of someone and I can't figure out who.

Just listened to the first song off of Degree Absolute, after you mentioned them. I ahve never heard of them but they sound pretty killer. Have they been discussed previously?

The Muzzle Affection? Weird title. The song doesn't do anything for me though and the E.Y.E. download won't work either :( . Otherwise some of the other songs sound pretty cool.


...Now go check out Chaoswave

http://www.metalreviews.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5392

Thanks Ken. BTW, have you ever heard of Dali's Dillemma? They are not as aggressive as the bands being mentioned but they are definetlely top quality prog-metal.

I have not, I'll try and remember to check them out.

Love April's Ruin. The bassist is pretty good. And so goes for the rest. Excellent stuff.

Can't says the download has expired.

You're late, son! It's a great tune, though.

I just got this album and I am half-way through it and I freakin' love it. There is a ton of Pain of Salvation in here but it has its own feel. This band just skyrocketed to the tops of my list. They are all over the place (in a good way.) I need to pick up their earlier two albums. Someone should do an official review of this album on the site. This band is def at the top of the new(er) league of more aggressive prog-metal out there.

I liked their lead guitars and their pianos but the vocals were pretty lamne =/

I just got this in the mail today, it's a great album! Awesome suggestion. Thanks!

Im glad you like it. Let me know what you think after it sinks in with a few listens.

I got a lot of really killer albums recently. I wish I could review them all. I may try and start doing shorter reviews so I can review more.