SCALE THE SUMMIT CLIMB ABOVE THE PEAK OF BANDS THAT ALL SOUND THE SAME
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 at 9:31am by Vince Neilstein
This might read like the opening line of a badly written press release for a shitty local band, but fuck it: in a musical climate where even the most distinguished metal bands are easily associated with a particular sub-genre or movement, it’s incredibly refreshing to hear a band that succumbs to no cliches and creates a sound that is truly unique. The L.A.-based quartet and recent Prosthetic Records’ signees Scale the Summit do just that, creating a sound that’s completely one of a kind.
The songs on the band’s MySpace page from their self-released 2007 album Monument pummel, pound, and artfully weave and bob their way through myriad sonic landscapes and musical ideas. The band’s heady musical approach fuses the dynamics (and instrumental take) of Russian Circles’ proggier and heavier moments with the jazz-metal complexity of another California band pushing new boundaries, Intronaut — and injects it with a youthful exuberance only capable of emanating from dudes who really, really love their craft. The album they’re currently recording for Prosthetic is one of my most eagerly anticipated new releases from a new band in 2009.
-VN
Wow. This is some good stuff here. Thanks for pointing it out.
Not bad at all. Though I have to say, I definitely hear some Cynic in there.
STS are fuckin amazing…they lived here in houston for awhile… .i had the pleasure of seeing them a couple times. i cant wait to hear what theyre writing for their label debut!
Not to mention the fact that both guitarists use guitars they, themselves, built by hand. I hear ’70s prog (Zappa), Metallica, Yes, Chris Poland, among others. The absence of keyboards is refreshing.
I don’t think these guys are really expanding any musical boundaries, as Cynic pretty much broke most of them probably when these dudes were not even in their teens. While that is not meant as a slight, its just reinforcing that it is very difficult to do something that can be considered original. But they are good, don’t get me wrong. Might as well go back and listen to Gordian Knot while you’re at it though. They were pretty impressive prog band (featuring members of Cynic, Watchtower.)
Well, that’s it for me. I think I hate prog metal.
I mean, I really want to love it. But this is yet another prog metal band I can’t fucking stand. If these guys are great, then I don’t think there is any hope.
Think of me what you will.
I am a prog metal hater. I will go back to my Bloodbath now, and leave you kids alone.
definitely cynic-o-licious. awesome though. thx.
Are you fucking jokeing??!1 Ive known about STS LONG before they even got signed. Anyone with a MySpace has know about them. Just like with Spylacopa, MetalSucks, your so late to the party everyones gone home already. Way to go! Youve informed everyone of a band they already know about. What next, you going to gush on a about RAHBRAS?
These guys sound exactly like CKY without vocals.
[...] Prosthetic Records’ debut Carving Desert Canyons drops on February 17th. The album is easily one of my most anticipated releases of 2009 — from a new band, that is — and it’ll be certain to get the prog masturbaters [...]