ARCANICA

Elemental ARCANICA.BANDCAMP.COM Dark cosmic prog metal delights from the Philadelphian quintet. Progressive metal has continuously evolved over the last 40 years, so it’s often difficult for newer bands to find their own sound. That’s why ArcAnica’s latest EP, Elemental, is noteworthy, as they blend influences such as Leprous, Haken and early Black Sabbath into a fairly fresh and rewarding collection. Opener The Flood demonstrates this wonderfully, with its impassioned singing, chaotic instrumentation, and apocalyptic lyricism conveying plenty of urgency and quirkiness. Although the remaining three tracks don’t deviate very much from that formula, each of them offers a few special qualities. The initially peaceful Against The Wind, for example, incorporates traces of sludge rock and psychedelic rock as it becomes increasingly feisty and complex. Black Fire’s emphasis on playful acoustic…