It's real! TesseracT are finally heading over to the US and Canada! And they're doing so with very special support. After a bunch of shows in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, the band will officially bring The Altered State Tour to North America.
They'll start up by supporting Katatonia for 12 shows across September and October. Then they'll kick off their own headlining tour with support from nothing less than the instrumental prog masters Scale The Summit and impressive newcomers Anciients for the whole month of October! This looks tremendously amazing! You cannot miss the chance to see all these amazing bands together, presenting to the audience three of the best albums of 2013. Are you still here reading this post? Go grab your ticket!
Big shout to the guys at EMG pickups for consistently supporting and spreading awesome music on a mass scale. Not to mention for producing sweet gear... Check their official website for more details.
Some of you have probably ran into these videos before but EMG Pickups is renowned for bringing incredible talents into their studio to do what they do best.... Check out amazing performances from Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders), Jeff Loomis, Evan Brewer (The Faceless), Chris Letchford (Scale The Summit), and Alex Laiho (Children of Bodom) down below and check EMG on Youtube for more!
It’s the start of July already. We’re already over halfway through 2013. Jeez time really does fly. The amount of metal of the highest quality that has hit the stores already is astounding. We've been doing our best to keep up with all the notable releases of the year and I think we've been doing a pretty decent job. Not too much has flown under the radar and I’ve personally had time to digest mostly everything I was excited for at the beginning of the year. I’ve been surprised by a lot of the music I’ve really been enjoying, some of which is a lot lighter than I ever would have predicted. Without further ado, here are the Best Of lists and some song highlights from our four main writers starting with my own (albums in no particular order). If you’ve missed any of these, definitely check em out.
Trisolino's List
Albums
Intronaut - “Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones)” [LISTEN HERE]
Coheed and Cambria - “The Afterman: Descension” [LISTEN HERE]
Wormed - “Exodromos” [LISTEN HERE]
Anciients - “Heart of Oak” [LISTEN HERE]
Leprous - “Coal” [LISTEN HERE]
Arsis - “Unwelcome” [LISTEN HERE]
Heaven Shall Burn - “VETO” [LISTEN HERE]
The Ocean - “Pelagial” [LISTEN HERE]
The Monolith Deathcult - “Tetragrammaton” [LISTEN HERE]
A Pale Horse Named Death - “Lay My Soul to Waste” [LISTEN HERE]
Tesseract - “Altered State” [LISTEN HERE]
The Black Dahlia Murder - “Everblack” [LISTEN HERE]
Scale the Summit - “The Migration” [LISTEN HERE]
August Burns Red - “Rescue & Restore” [LISTEN HERE]
Palms - “Palms” [LISTEN HERE]
Instrumental progressive metal band Scale the Summit dropped their fourth album a couple weeks ago, on June 11th via Prosthetic records. The guys are continuing the evolution of their signature sound with this release. Scale the Summit’s unique brand of music has been often dubbed “Adventure Metal.” The sound is both emotional and technical, calm and energized all in the same song. Because of this, and the obvious lack of vocals, this album is a lot to properly digest, take in, analyze and review. So I’m a little behind on this one, but here we are, my review of Scale the Summit’s new album “The Migration.”
First off I want to talk a little about the album art that appears on the front cover of “The Migration.” It is beyond fantastic. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Prior to this release, I wasn’t much of a Scale the Summit fan. And with so much solid music out this year, including a release by The Black Dahlia Murder on the same day, I wasn’t too inclined to check this album out. This coupled with the fact that Scale the Summit releases are not available on Spotify, the streaming service I have a premium subscription to and constantly promote here. It wasn’t looking like “The Migration” would hit my ears anytime soon. Then I saw the album art. Wow it’s stunning. I don’t know quite why, but that topiary creature, as I’ve seen it called, is gorgeous. This is the perfect example of what album artwork can do. After seeing the fantastically done album art created by Duncan Storr, I wanted to like the album. The art made me want to enjoy the music. Remember this bands, because the album art is still important. So anyways, I then checked out the album preview for “The Migration.” Flash forward a couple months or so, and a physical copy of “The Migration” was in my hands.
The production on this album is also incredibly important. This is by far the best produced Scale the Summit album to date. By far and away. “The Migration” will most likely set industry standards for this genre and be oft imitated in the near future. The cleans are perfect. Shimmery and dirt free, just like I like 'em to be. The leads on this album soar and sing. The rhythm tone is both light and playful, and heavy and crushing depending on the play style. The guitars readily achieve the required light and heavy tones needed to pull off this type of music. These effective variety may very well be due to the new EMG 57 and 66 pickups that guitarist/songwriter Chris Letchford has been showcasing through multiple song playthroughs featuring new tunes from “The Migration.” These retro voiced yet high output active pickups combine with the signature Strandberg Letchford uses and the Fractal Axe FX system to give a very unique voice to the guitars. The bass is very present in the mix and has the smooth, buttery tone I expect from progressive metal music. The bass slots in with the drums, which also have a fantastic tone, to fill out the rhythm section. The bass sits perfectly in the mix. Obviously a part of the rhythm section, but not completely buried. I know the whole instrumental band thing helps the mix out greatly but metal mixers and producers should still take note.
On the whole topic of instrumental music, my opinion on this topic actually bolsters the praise of “The Migration.” I’ve really never been a big fan of instrumental music all that much. I didn’t really enjoy or connect with the previous Scale the Summit albums. I enjoy classical and jazz once in awhile, but not nearly to the extent I enjoy metal and these genres influence on metal. That being said, the same applies to instrumental music in today’s time. I definitely do love the post-rock band Explosions in the Sky. And I’ve really dug a couple of Steve Vai’s solo pieces, namely "Tender Surrender" and "For The Love Of God." But I’ve honestly never made it through an Animals as Leaders album and can’t recall any of their material besides "CAFO" and some song about babies or something. The point is, even in modern music, I’ve strayed away from instrumental music for vocal affairs. The perfect example is The Ocean’s new album "Pelagial." While I certainly enjoyed the instrumental version of the album, I found the vocal version highly superior. And Loic Rossetti is definitely not my favorite vocalist in the world. Well then you’re probably asking yourself why I am reviewing “The Migration” if I don’t really like instrumental bands. The answer is simple. Because I love this album. Also I do what I want, don’t tell me what to do.
This album really is fantastically written. The melodies and soundscapes are beautiful. The jazzy chords and slower, singing melodies create some of the most lush, calm music laid to tape this year. The calm and beautiful songs on this album feature incredible soulful and emotional leads that allow me to connect with “The Migration” on a level that other instrumental efforts completely fail to achieve. These guys aren’t lying when they say the strings are their voices. Songs like "Atlas Novus" (my personal favorite track), "Oracle", "Evergreen" and "Willow" will take you to a land of clouds and heaven where you can spend your days resting in eternal comfort and happiness. Or something like that. On the other hand tracks like "Odyssey", "Narrow Salient", and album closer "The Traveler" will take you on very different journeys to very different places. These more frenetic paced tracks more aptly fit the Adventure Metal description. These sounds wind and speed through alleys and mountains, leading the listener on a fantastic chase. The energetic and technical powerful moments on this record have the perfect amounts of heavy, technicality, speed, and light hearted flavor to make this a perfect progressive metal release. This album is fun to listen to, it almost feels like a metal version of the Mario videogames or something. I dunno man listen yourself and come up with your own metaphors and comparisons if you don’t like mine. One song on this record really sticks out from the pack. “The Dark Horse” is a bit heavier and darker than everything else on “The Migration” and I love it. This song brings some more punishment to table and offsets the winding, heavily jazz influenced music quite well. Overall, this is definitely Scale the Summit’s best work compositionally. Every song is fantastic and there are plenty of "oh my god that was amazing" moments on this record. StS also keep it pretty diverse, making this album easy to get through in one sitting, I’ve made it straight through three playthroughs while I’ve been working on this review and some other stuff.
The bottum line is Scale the Summit really delivered with this one. All aspects of this album are absolutely fantastic. I have absolutely nothing to complain about in the least. Pick this one up and stay up to date with the band, links are provided below. Check out the videos provided if my glowing review hasn’t moved you enough to pick up this album without hearing any music. I am generally not a huge fan of instrumental music like I said earlier but Scale the Summit has joined the tiny group of exceptions with this release. It’s really simple. Buy this album if you want to hear some of the best and most beautiful instrumental metal out there. “The Migration” gets 9.5/10.
Today is a one ridiculously solid Tuesday in the metal world. Three extremely notable releases drop today and there’s plenty more including the first Black Sabbath album featuring Ozzy in like a million years. Today is a day for buying metal.
The Black Dahlia Murder are death metal legends at this point in their career. 2011 album “Ritual” was a fantastic work of modern death metal, influenced both by the American death metal scenes of Florida and New York and the Swedish melodic death metal scene. The Black Dahlia Murder have 100 percent forged a completely unique and awesome signature sound. Metalblade records released a temporary stream of the bands newest album released today, titled “Everblack”, and I can assure you this album will not disappoint. The signature sound is further honed and expanded on. This album is worth your money. Buy it.
Instrumental, progressive, “adventure metal” band Scale the Summit is back again with their newest album “The Migration” out today! This album features some of the most beautiful music I’ve heard in a long time. Single “Atlas Novus” is just ridiculous. These guys are immensely talented players ad songwriters. “The Migration” clearly is a very large step above all of Scale the Summit’s previous work. The production on what I’ve heard so far is also fantastic and a new high point for the band. Overall “The Migration” looks to be a fantastic album. Fans of instrumental music, melodic playing, and progressive metal should get in their cars, begin moving to a record store by whatever mode of transportation you favor, immediately and purchase this new album.
Children of Bodom are back, and this time with a higher content of your daily requirement of metal. The melodic death metal veterans return with “Halo of Blood” today. Much controversy has surrounded CoB and their recent releases. The previous albums certainly haven’t had the same drive and fury that the original CoB had that made melodic death metal classics. This time, Alexi Laiho and cohorts have released a record that looks to have a little more oomph. The black metal influence on lead single “Transference” gives a pretty solid indication that Children of Bodom has delivered with this one. This is another album worth buying.
Everyone go give a warm welcome to our current Artist of the Week, Scale The Summit! These are the pioneers who have brought several albums worth of incredible "Adventure Metal". Now they're on the verge of releasing "The Migration"! Go grab your pre-orders here and check out our most recent preview here where Scale The Summit made our very own Trisolino a believer in adventure metal.
Be sure to check out our interview with the one and only Christ Letchford below!
We're also running one helluva contest with these guys. I highly recommend you enter for your chance to win ANY Scale The Summit shirt!
1. Like the post for a second vote 2. Comment on the post for a third vote
This contest ends Monday 5/6 at 9PM EST!
*Several designs are available in multiple sizes at www.scalethesummitstore.com *We will contact the winner.
*By participating, you acknowledge that you completely
release Facebook of all responsibility. This promotion is in no way sponsored,
endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook.
____________________
CL = Chris Letchford MT = Mike Thall
MT - How did you come up the name Scale The Summit?
CL - Travis was looking through a photography book and saw a photo titled “The Summit”, put “Scale” in front and asked us all if we liked it. Worked out great since we already have a very organic/nature themed band.
MT - Speaking of themes, your music has been appropriately coined as “Adventure Metal”. How did that come about?
CL - A friend of ours at Musicians Institute watched our practice one day around the time when we first formed and said our music really sent him on a journey so we started using “Adventure Metal”. You really can’t tell a potential new fan, “Hey, we’re a metal band”, that could mean so many different things to so many people since there are a million sub-genres now. It helped as it sparked curiosity for people not familiar with the band.
MT - You guys have a ton of musical talent on all fronts. Any advice for upcoming instrumentalists?
CL - Thanks a lot! Its really just all about practicing and learning new things everyday. I have done a lot of teaching, clinics, and lessons for guitar magazines, and from what I have learned from people wanting/needing help is that they just need to put in more time with their instrument.
MT - Practice makes perfect. A little inspiration never hurts either. What inspires you?
CL - When the weather is amazing out, the ocean/beach, good food, and weight training.
MT - You heard it first bros. Chris Letchford lifts. Moving on, your new album “The Migration” will be hitting store shelves soon. Can you tell us a bit about that record and what went into making it?
CL - I started writing it before “The Collective” even came out, Im always writing. I don’t like feeling the pressure to pop a record out in a short amount of time. We all started learning and perfecting it last November as a group, and just worked through it all to make sure we were ready for the studio. Jamie King did all the tracking, mixing and mastering for it. It was great fun recording with him and the final product came out just like I have always wanted our records to sound. Basically spent an entire month up in NC at his studio doing all the tracking, and then we mixed / mastered via email sending notes back and forth. Pretty smooth and we finished much faster than we expected.
MT - Very cool. Is it named “The Migration” for any particular reason?
CL - Just liked the way the title really described the music for this record. Plus the artwork Duncan Storr made for it fit perfectly with the title.
MT - Definitely makes sense. That artwork is brilliant! How would you say "The Migration" compares or contrasts with your previous work?
CL - Better song writing with more dynamics, and we finally achieved the production we wanted… as well as amazing artwork.
MT - What are your plans for the rest of 2013 after “The Migration” drops?
CL - We have a tour with Intronaut starting before the album comes out, and then afterwards we’ll be touring for many more months through 2014.
MT - Awesome! Approximately how many tours have you been on? Any favorites?
CL - Around 11. I would say that the tour with did with Dream Theater would be at the top of the list and the the BTBAM / Cynic / Devin Townsend tour we did. Both I’ll never forget.
MT - What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on tour?
CL - Some guy asked to look at the bottom of my shoe in Florida, and then when I showed him, he licked it…. And then went on to lick just about everyone else shoe that was on the tour package.
MT - Tasty. Now it's time for the fun round. Have you ever actually actually scaled a summit?
CL - I have done a lot of hiking and camping, but I haven’t actually scaled a real summit peak. Maybe someday!
MT - Best of luck with that. We’re fresh out of questions. Thanks for your time man! Any shout outs you want to give?
CL - Thanks for having me. And to everyone reading, “The Migration” is out June 11th. You can pre-order a copy from our personally ran online store www.scalethesummitstore.com and make sure to catch us on tour with Intronaut, May – July!
Scale the Summit is gearing up to release their fourth all instrumental effort June 11th on Prosthetic Records. To be honest, I’ve personally never been a fan. Everything prior to what I’ve heard of “The Migration” so far has been somewhat underwhelming. The potential for absolute greatness has always been there though. All that was necessary was a jump in technical playing and compositional skill. When I first heard that Scale the Summit had finished a new album I wasn’t planning on checking it out because of the sheer number of solid albums I still need to digest.
Then I saw the album art. Wow it’s stunning. I don’t know quite why, but that topiary creature, as I’ve seen it called, is gorgeous. This is the perfect example of what album artwork can do. After seeing the fantastically done album art created by Duncan Storr, I wanted to like the album. The art made me want to enjoy the music. Remember this bands, because the album art is still important. So I checked out the album preview for “The Migration.” And I was stunned again. The music is as beautiful as the art. I literally cannot wait to hear the full versions of "Atlas Novus", "Willow", and "Sabrosa". "Odyssey", the lead single for the album, is a fantastic track itself that features, around the 1:55 mark, some of the prettiest lead playing I’ve heard in a long while. I’m truly stoked for this album. This is a must hear for anyone with any interest in guitar playing, instrumental albums, or just simply beautiful music. I need “The Migration” now. Right now. Look below for the preview, single, studio videos, and band links. You can also choose from a wide variety of pre-order packages either here or here!
The “Instrumental
Adventure Metal” foursome will return this spring with their forth full-length
release, “The Migration.” The wait for this album shouldn’t be too bad because
Scale The Summit has confirmed they have completed the recording phase of the
album’s production and are planning a Spring 2013 release. This is also the first album recorded with new bass player
Mark Michell (Tetrafusion).
To hold you over, we have some album play through teasers
and “Redwoods”, a single from last year. The band has also unveiled a new new logo in support of this release. No official artwork yet.
Stay tuned. We'll keep you up to date as more info on "The Migration" comes along.
Instrumental beasts Scale The Summit have recently been recording awesome play through videos. This band is composed of very talented musicians and it's inspiring to watch them do what they do best. Check out guitarist Chris Letchford play "Black Hills", guitarist Travis LeVrier playing through "Bloom", and bassist Mark Michell slapping out "The Levitated" and "Drifting Figures". This is great music. Play it loud and feast your minds!
I might just end up going to this one. It's an prog super show featuring instrumental beasts Scale The Summit along with the jazzy Trioscapes (Dan of Between The Buried And Me's side project). They well be headed from Ontario down to North Carolina. If you enjoy progressive metal and appreciate musicianship, this is a great show for you. Check out the dates on the flyer below and listen to the music we have for you. Should be progtastic.
