Destiny Potato's ultra-talented guitarist and mastermind David Maxim Micic just released his long awaited, third solo release “Bilo 3.0”. As we wait for his band's debut album to be released, this is something worth being loved.
Expectations were huge after the amazing, previous episodes of the “Bilo” series but this time David pushed himself beyond with an unforgettable and inspirational musical journey. The album, lasting over 40 minutes (!!), features 6 tracks and a load of guest appearances bringing different vocals, big instrumental variety, beautiful guitar solos, and contributing to the realization of an overall supreme artwork: Jeff Loomis, Per Nilsson, Jakub Zytecki, Dunja Markovic, Aleksandra Radosavljevic, Vladimir Lalic, Aleksandra Djelmas, Larissa Terescenko, Vasil Hadzimanov, Mina Mladenovic, and the Bilo Choir (Aleksandra Djelmas, Tanja Knezevic, Vladimir Lalic, Marko Pantelic, Ivan Propadovic, Marko Zivkovic).
As David stated, this is music for the sake of music, just the most striking, simple, and amazing form of art. You need to experience this. The full album can be streamed on YouTube, Bandcamp, and Spotify and can be downloaded basically everywhere. Enjoy it!
If this band's name isn't enough to grab your attention, I'm not sure what will... Maybe the damn near perfect music they produce? Maybe musical genius David Maxim Micic at the compositional helm? Speak of the devil, David just dropped an awesome play through for a brand new track taken from the band's upcoming full-length. "Blue Sun" already delivers on all fronts, and this only the instrumental version. Watch and listen to the Serbian genius do what he does best below. Also check out another hard hitting single, "Dark Side Of You", and a track from David's solo career. Potatoes Gonna Potate.
This year was packed with amazing music in all forms. EP releases were no exception. The competition on this list was fierce but it is finally settled. Here are the top 5 EPs of 2012.
1 CHIMP SPANNER - ALL ROADS LEAD HERE
Hailing from the UK, guitar and composition wizard Paul Ortiz has been creating
some of the most mind bending, out of the box tracks known to man since 2005 and
he hasn't even remotely slowed down. If anything, he's sped up with his newest "All Roads Lead Here". This is a multi-dimensional aural adventure teeming with musical genius and complete excellence. And it's all crammed into 25 minutes of explosive audio perfection. From "Dark Age Of Technology" to "Cloud City",and the three massive parts of the epic "Möbius" in between, this is one you don't want to miss.This release deserves your full attention as the EP of the year.
Circle of Contempt have grown in
many ways since their debut while maintaining the edge they are known
for. Technical and creative with an increased focus on musical execution, Circle of Contempt have achieved classic status with the phenomenal "Entwine The Threads". Tracks such as "Transient Belief", "Perceive The Mendacity", and "Entwine The Threads" really set it apart. This is definitely an EP that's worth your time and money. More than that,
this is an EP worth recognition among the best this year has to offer.
"Entwine The Threads" is like the metal cherry on top of 2012 \m/ It is a
massive and inspiring musical experience.
This is the kind of band that will either inspire the hell out of other
artists or make them want to give up on their respective instruments. The Ascariasis debut was one of the most impressive Death Metal EPs to come out in awhile. "Ocean Of Colour" is filled with shreddy, razor-edged metal combined with a creative, tasteful
side. This band has the ability to combine a chaotic, heavy sound with a classical, melodic flavor. They even throw in some ambience. Altogether, it makes them really stand out
amongst the Death Metal pack. "Shatter", "Eleven", "Carving The World" and the title track all demonstrate why Ascariasis is the cream of the crop.
Coming
from Serbia, David Maxim Micic has both re-defined and set the bar
high for other "bedroom producers" worldwide. The Berklee trained
multi-instrumentalist followed up his debut in the biggest way possible.
"Bilo 2.0" borrows elements of the original release while being a beast
of it's own. Bringing together genius, progressive metal,
jazz fusion, huge atmosphere, electronics, technicality, tasteful
writing, and cutting edge experimentation, this EP creates a musical
journey
for the listener. Every track on "Bilo 2.0" will bring you "Along For A
Ride" like nothing you've heard before. This is easily one of 2012's
best EPs.
Novallo sounds like a combination of Periphery, The Human Abstract, Mute Math, Maroon 5, and lord knows what... The music these guys make, although random at times, is damn impressive. Their debut is easily one of the strongest EPs to drop this year. Packed with tight instrumental work, amazing vocals, and infectious ear candy, Novallo will leave you hooked. Every track on this release has something interesting and unique going. To name a few - "Angle of Perception", "4 Eyes Win!", and "Visually Silent" really stand out. Definitely give the EP a listen. Warning: It will get stuck in your head in the best way possible.
There was some very tight competition on all fronts this year. EPs were no exception. After much debate, here are the top 5 EPs of 2011.
1 CORELIA - NOSTALGIA
This was a tough decision, but Corelia deserves 2011's EP of the year. This band is composed of true musicians all the way through, and they all deliver in a huge way on this debut release. "Nostalgia" is an EP that will leave listeners exactly like that with it's infectious, well-composed glory which will leave you wanting to listen again and again. This is a damn near perfect Progressive Metal release touching on various musical and conceptual themes. "The Sound of Glaciers Moving", "Treetops", "Mute Swan" and "Blood Petals" are all great reasons why "Nostalgia" is a masterpiece that deserves nothing less than your full attention.
2 BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME - THE PARALLAX: HYPERSLEEP DIALOGUES
Between The Buried And Me's "The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues" was a ground breaking release in many ways. This isn't so much an EP as an adventure through hyperspace. This is a band that always seems to expand and improve with every release. And with each new addition to their discography they also become more ambitious. The original "Parallax" is no exception. They brought out the first part of their epic space concept in the biggest way possible. Composed of three massive tracks ranging from approx 8-11 minutes each, there was no shortage of quality content here. Take a trip with part I then move onto "The Parallax II".
Give a good listen to David Maxim Micic's original "Bilo" and you should be able to tell the man is a musical genius. Also trained through the prestigious Berklee College of Music, he has the know how behind his craft. Bringing a virtuosic level of talent and serious creative drive together, David is becoming a very real force in the modern Progressive Metal scene. "Bilo" was only the beginning, but it was an especially impressive one. Split into four parts titled "Bilo I-IV", this debut EP covered vast amounts of musical ground with serious groove and guitar work. It's fully recommend you partake of David Maxim Micic's aural delights.
In many ways you could look at this release as the expansion pack to the Periphery debut. The "Icarus EP" offered up a randomly assorted collection of goods which included 2 new songs, 2 previously un-released ones, 2 slightly re-worked tracks from "Periphery", and 3 electronic remixes of "Icarus Lives!" Altogether, it made for one helluva EP package with a good bit of content. Of all the above, 5 tracks made this EP especially great. The dirty, groovy intro "New Groove", the technical chaos of "Frak The Gods" and release of "Eureka", the official release of "Captain On", and the cleaner tweak of "Jetpacks Was Yes!".
The debut EP from Substructure put the Missouri band on the metal map in a huge way. While many bands fail on the brutal front, Substructure just gets it with their juggernaut "intergalactic space djams". With a few similarities to The Contortionist, "Monolith" mercilessly crushed skulls with it's heavy onslaught only to seamlessly transition into tasty melodic segments. Substructure is an insanely creative, hyper-talented musical unit and it really shows on this release. Massive tracks like "Canis Minor", "Canis Major", "Telescopium" and "Cephus" are great examples. Expect excellence from this band on their upcoming full-length.
It's always great to watch master musicians do what they do best. David Maxim Micic is no exception. This Berklee trained mult-instrumentalist exploded into the metal underground with his solo "Bilo" EPs and now he's shredding with his new band Destiny Potato. Read our special on them here. Potatoes gonna potate. Also check out the other potato related goods we have for you.
Coming from Scotland, Sithu Aye writes some huge progressive metal instrumentals. Really great stuff. He just dropped his second independent full length record and you get to download it for free! Featuring contributions from the incredible David Maxim Micic and Plini, the level of awesome on this album is through the roof. Support Sithu Aye and download "Invent The Universe" right here. And if you really dig it, give him some cash! You can also listen to the whole thing right here on The Circle Pit.
You want a band featuring two hot Serbian chicks and upcoming instrumental genius David Maxim Micic? (Known for his Bilo EPs and currently attending Berklee College of Music. Prestigious as FUCK.) Then this must be destiny! Or a potato.... Or both! Destiny Potato is a band with a lot of promise and a funny name. Recently signed to Century Media (woot!), they are working on their EP titled "LUN". It will be an experimental, progressive metal tour de force touching on a wide range of musical themes. Mark my words. Destiny Potato is a band to watch out for and we have both eyes open. They released one of the heaviest tracks off the upcoming record, "Dark Side of You", and you can listen to it right here, right now! Also check out the updates they've been posting along with the insanity of "Mbinguni Amina" from Bilo 2.0 because I can (check out the review here.) If you like what you hear, stay tuned. We'll keep you up to date on all the Destiny Potato goodness. I wonder how a Destiny Potato tastes...
I stumbled upon David Maxim Micic's "Bilo" EP not too long ago and instantly became a fan. This guys creativity is out of this world and his writing is solid. Coming from Serbia, David has really re-defined and set the bar high for other "bedroom producers" worldwide.
The "Bilo 2.0" EP borrows elements of the original release but it's definitely a beast of it's own. Bringing together progressive metal, jazz fusion, huge atmosphere, electronics, technicality, tasteful writing, and heaps of experimentation, this EP creates a musical journey for the listener. Not to say David's music is perfect, but he sure as hell is working to make it that way.
It starts off with "Electric Fields", which not too surprisingly starts with electronics. Maybe not the most original concept, but when the song really kicks in, you can tell this EP is in an entirely different league from the mediocrities being pumped out today. David's writing style is just plain amazing. It morphs from being simple and effective to complex and huge in the blink of an eye. "Rise And Shine" really displays that quality. It begins with electronics rising into an incredible winding guitar riff which ushers in the powerful main melody of the song. This is a solid track from start to finish, displaying a variety of aural pleasures across the spectrum from melody to heaviness. "Rise And Shine" also features an exceptional contribution from guitarist Jakub Zyteki. Next up is "Along For a Ride", referencing the opening track of the original "Bilo" EP. Absolutely incredible song with shades of Animals As Leaders. This track has a really interesting tight electronic type groove towards the beginning but explodes into one of the best leading melodies on the release. What's really awesome about this track is that it features several impressive saxophone parts by guest Carl Carton. It gives the song a very creative twist. "Strange Night" is definitely a strange one. It's probably one of the more technical pieces on the EP. It's also the first track to feature powerful singing vocals from Vladimir Lalic. David seems to have a thing for laying speaking voices into his songs, providing short, trippy monologues for the listener. It has an awesome effect and is certainly showcased in "Strange Night". Very well written track. The last and hardest song to pronounce, "Mbinguni Amina", may be one of my favorites, if not my favorite on "Bilo 2.0". Absolutely phenomenal. I love the huge brass sound of the trumpets and the worldly feel backing a good bit of the song. I never wanted to mosh to trumpets before! The grooves and melodic parts in this one are so damn nice and there's another flash to the original "Bilo" EP through a familiar female monologue. One of the things that really sets this song apart are the huge, opera style vocals soaring above, yet again provided by Vladimir Lalic. Great stuff.
As I said before, it's not quite perfection but it's definitely pushing for it. David Maxim Micic is already a mature musician, especially for his age, but I think the Bilos are just the beginning of what he can do. There's massive creative potential here. But in the mean time I'll keep jamming the Bilos. Objectively, it feels like there is an overabundance of quirky electronic music on "Bilo 2.0" which may be off putting for some. Although it's just a part of his experimental style so it doesn't bother me personally. Also some riffs may sound similar at first listen, but you will notice they are unique with further observation. Other than that I don't have any real criticisms about this EP. Just incredibly well done. Big things are on the way for this guy.
If you're a prog head with a flare for the experimental you should definitely add "Bilo 2.0" to your music collection. You can grab it right here on Bandcamp. You should also get the original "Bilo" for that matter. The Circle Pit will definitely watch out to see what David Maxim Micic does next. Stay tuned.
Also be sure to check out Destiny Potato (best band name ever?), David's recently signed, full time band.
Destiny Potato's ultra-talented guitarist and mastermind David Maxim Micic just released his long awaited, third solo release “Bilo 3.0”. As we wait for his band's debut album to be released, this is something worth being loved.
Links: Facebook // Bandcamp // iTunes
