Artist: Scale The Summit
Title: The Collective
Genre: Progressive Metal / Instrumental Rock
Release Date: 15th April 2011
Label: Prosthetic Records
Album Review
SCALE THE SUMMIT formed in 2004, forging a path through the instrumental progressive metal, preferring to term it as “adventurous metal”. After albums ‘Monument’ and ‘Carving Desert Canyons’ they have created another feast of intricate and complex soundscapes in ‘The Collective’. Having played the Prog Nation Tour they were soon gaining respect and recognition. The search for the perfection of sound they wanted their songwriter and guitarist Chris Letchford and also Travis Levrier went to attend luthier courses to be able build up their own instruments. Not surprising when you listen to their music, these guys love what they do, there is a great sense of concentration in what they’re creating, which means a great enjoyment for the listener too.
‘The Collective’ starts with ‘Colossal’ and the sound indeed towers over you. The second composition, ‘Whales’, shows you especially why it’s great to expand your instrument’s potential, the guitars are superb here and each instrument “communicates” with the other perfectly, put it visually, a symmetrical song. ‘Gallows’ opens up with impressive drums and you can see why the song seems to appear to represent the album in several media outlets. It’s an interesting song, where the submersion into sound is complete and inescapable; the intensity switches to a beautiful reprise before it starts enfolding again. ‘Origins of Species’ may reflect the cover artwork, which is concerned with botanical patterns and structures, the one in here concerning phyllotaxis - a pattern based on opposition to the central node. Musically you can imagine it is reflected in the way the music does seem organised into patterns, often seeming to involve a discussion and search.
Some time ago I was introduced to RED SPARROWES, a post-metal instrumental band; it’s certainly more than welcomed to just immerse oneself in the soundscapes which space one can inhabit to even a fuller degree than songs with traditional presence of singers, music which affords you a sense of inspired solitude. There are never enough bands playing this kind of music, so being able to add SCALE THE SUMMIT, whose work impressed me and as it is with such music, with repeated listens there’s always more to be found to enjoy, well, it is just superb. The album shows their increasing skills within their art and I’m sure that it’s going to be loved by their fans and bring them new listeners alike. Quality!
Tracklist
01. Colossal – 3.48
02. Whales – 6.28
03. Emersion – 2.33
04. The Levitated – 3.02
05. Secret Earth – 3.38
06. Gallows – 4.33
07. Origin of Species – 2.45
08. Alpenglow – 3.58
09. Black Hills – 7.59
10. Balkan – 3.44
11. Drifting Figures – 3.10
Line-up
Chris Letchford – 7 & 8 String guitars
Jordan Eberhardt – 6 string bass
Pat Skeffington – drums, percussion
Travis Levrier – 7 string guitar
Websites
http://www.scalethesummit.com/ / www.myspace.com/scalethesummit
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Total: 9 / 10
Comments powered by CComment