Dysrhythmia - Psychic Maps
Rating
RIYL
Electro QuarterstaffSpastic Ink
Don Caballero
Release Date
07/07/2009
Label
RelapseTracklist
1. Festival of Popular Delusions2. Triangular Stare
3. Reactionary
4. Room of Vertigo
5. Iron Cathedral
6. Lifted By Skin
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Animals as Leaders frontman Tosin Abasi better watch his back. Instrumental metal (intstrumetal?) veterans Dysrhythmia are back to stake their claim as, ummm, leaders of the slowly expanding genre, and this time they’re packing heat. Don’t expect sweeping arpeggios or major scale noodling (a la Scale the Summit, bleh) or expansive, drawn-out soundscapes (best leave that to Zombi) – this is the frenetic, gasoline-soaked soundtrack to your weirdest dream turned up to 11 and set on fucking fire.
After a few short seconds into Psychic Maps it becomes obvious that these guys can flat out play. The unit of guitarist Kevin Hufnagel, bassist Colin Marston (who together comprise half of the newly formed Gorguts line-up) and drummer Jeff Eber offer some of the most technical songwriting you’re likely to hear all year. That said, we all know that technicality and musical dexterity do not equal engrossing songwriting, as anyone who has listened to the latest Dream Theater album is well aware. Dysrhythmia’s strength lies in their ability to take the churning, jagged nature of their music and present it in a, while not necessarily catchy, overtly accessible manner.
Using like-minded instrumentalists Don Caballero as a reference point, add elements of prog and a dash of avant-garde jazz and you have a very, very rough idea of what to expect from Psychic Maps. Unlike many instrumental albums, this should not be listened to as background music; this album deserves, and frequently grabs, your undivided attention. It’s only at that point that Marston’s gripping basslines and Hufnagel’s truly virtuosic songwriting begin to shine through the albums craggy exterior. Even Eber, who takes a backseat here to his talented bandmates, presents a terrific performance that cannot be fully appreciated after only one listen.
Each of the six tracks on Psychic Maps offers something different. The jaw-dropping fretwork on “Festival of Popular Delusions,” the fantastic drumming fueling “Triangular Stare,” “Reactionary’s” relaxed pace, the melodic flourishes on “Room of Vertigo,” the lurching heft of “Iron Cathedral” and the epic dissonance of closer “Lifted By Skin” are all unparalleled examples of instrumental music done right. There’s honestly not a weak track found here, each offering its own unique twists and turns which become more apparent with each successive listen.
As you may have guessed, Dysrhythmia is not actually for everyone. Their atonal, off-kilter approach will turn off many listeners who prefer their music comfortably packaged for easy digestion. The instrumental nature of the group may even turn off a few metal heads who would likely eat this shit up if it were written in conjunction with pig squealing in the foreground. Despite the challenging nature of the release, the bottom line is that Dysrhythmia has written the most accessible, and arguably best, album of their career, and anyone with a passing interest in metal, progressive or instrumental music would be doing themselves a disservice by not at least giving this album a shot.
--Matt Murphy
Comments
PA
Still want to listen to this. I dug their previous releases.
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