US tech/prog metallers’ second album delivers on all fronts.
Opening an album with a screamed rap over a tapped bass riff in 9/8 will prompt some to instantly hit the ‘stop’ button. But for those looking for something a little less abrasive, patience is a virtue.
On their second album, North Carolina’s Stellar Circuits deliver a smörgåsbord of sharp, pointed riffs, aggressive hooks and, in equal measure, airy refrains and sugary, twisting turns. Their palette is broad yet effortlessly balanced. Pleasure Cruise takes a prog metal thump, all bass and kick grooves, and counterbalances it with an earworm chorus that draws from alt-rock and arena bands. Jesse Olsen’s snake-like bass grooves lead the way on an introspective For The Birds, offering a complex ballad that’s a world away from the…
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Prog (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 142