New Hampshire’s own Vattnet Viskar have returned with their follow up to their amazing debut “Sky Swallower,” the equally challenging and rewarding “Settler.” The first thing I noticed about the album was the artwork which has a model depicting the late Christa McAuliffe (also from New Hampshire) weightless and training to be an Astronaut. McAuliffe died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. It is interesting how such a seemingly happy photo was a precursor to tragedy. That was by design according the the band.
But what about the music? Vattnet Viskar are a black metal band with a greater focus on dynamics than most bands of that genre. Dynamics was the main reason I loved “Sky Swallower” and on “Settler” the dynamics are greater. The utter harshness of the lead track sets the tone but while many bands would just maintain that breakneck pace, Vattnet Viskar change things around. “Yearn” has one of the best riffs on “Settler” and it is a considerably slower track. This change in the pace and overall dynamics allows the song “Impact” to have an IMPACT. It start with a fierce yell which is all the more powerful because of the track before it.
The overall performance of the band shows the tremendous chops and musicality of Vattnet Viskar. Most songs have many different riffs and parts, yet none of them overstay their welcome. “Heirs” is the closest to an “epic” and even that song flows so easily that it seems shorter than it is. I have found “Settler” to be an album that does grow with each listen. At first, I wasn’t exactly sure if I liked it! But that just means an album needs more time. With each listen, I would find another highlight (the opening riff on “Colony” for example!) and I liked the album more and more.
If you liked “Sky Swallower,” “Settler” is the next step in the evolution of Vattnet Viskar. They are not changing but rather they are growing and just getting better at what they do. Hopefully, the band will get the attention and praise that has been afforded fellow American Black Metallers deafheaven. This band deserves it.
Tracklist:
1. Dawnlands
2. Colony
3. Yearn
4. Impact
5. Glory
6. Heirs
7. Settler
8. Coldwar
Release date: 29th June, 2015 (EU)
Label: Century Media
Website: vattnetviskar.com
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Q: What made you decide to move on from Zero Hour?
Jasun: Troy had the ulnar nerve entrapment-sub-muscular surgery performed on his left arm in December of 2007. Troy has had a very difficult time gaining strength back into his left bicep muscle. In Zero Hour Troy played a lot legato/tapping sequences that are no longer possible. I couldn’t see carrying on without Troy. He’s a huge part of Zero Hour and I couldn’t see anyone else playing bass in ZH. Troy now works around the problem with Abnormal Thought Patterns. He phrases differently and plays sequences that his left arm can handle. People who caught us live (with ATP) would come up to me saying Troy sounds amazing and he looks to be cured. The reality is that’s very far from the truth.
Q: You have Cynthesis and Abnormal Thought Patterns now. Why did you feel the need for 2 projects?
Jasun: Once we knew Troy was going to need the surgery, I decided to buy a protools system and continue writing material. Troy was going to need a lot of rehabilitation and recovery time from the surgery. In the timeframe of 2008 to 2011 I wrote and recorded 3 albums of material (vocals) and a full-length of instrumental material. This was my therapy as I didn’t know what the future would hold for Troy, Zero Hour and myself.
Q: How would you categorize ATP? Instrumental progressive metal seems like a broad term nowadays!
Jasun: The instrumental material we play is Progressive and Heavy. We play compositions that incorporate odd-time signatures, polyrhythms, dynamic changes and so on. You have a ton of freedom writing Progressive Music and the genre is forever growing.
Q: With the success of bands like Animals As Leaders and Scale The Summit, what would it take for ATP to achieve the same success?
Jasun: Touring with some well known bands in the genre would be a huge help. We’d love to go out and play live with BTBAM, Animals As Leaders, Meshuggah, Dream Theater, Tesseract, Periphery, Scale The Summit, ect. We’re very proud of “Altered States of Consciousness” and we’ll do whatever we can do to push it. We’ll need some help along the way and are hopeful that something can come together.
Q: What’s next? ATP on tour? A new Cynthesis album?
Jasun: Abnormal Thought Patterns is confirmed and excited to play PROGPOWER EUROPE in October of 2015. We will be adding more dates soon. We’ll have 3 music videos coming together soon to help support “Altered States of Consciousness”. Abnormal Thought Patterns is our priority and we’re looking forward to pushing the release as best we can with Lifeforce Records. Vocals are being recorded at the moment for the 3rd Cynthesis release. That release will come out in 2016.
Q: Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!
Jasun: No problem, Rob and appreciate you spreading the word man.
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The Tipton twins (Jasun and Troy) have been around the prog metal world for quite a while now. Zero Hour always seemed like they would be the next big thing but it just never happened. Troy was then sidelined with an injury and Zero Hour was no more. From the ashes arose not one, but two bands. One band, Cynthesis, was the more “traditional” prog metal band. While the other band, Abnormal Thought Patterns, was an instrumental prog band.
“Altered States Of Consciousness” is the second full-length from ATP and it shows that the brothers and drummer Mike Guy are still incredibly talented and can craft a dynamic and powerful set of songs. “Altered States Of Consciousness” starts by ATP dipping their toes into the djent pool with the opening riff of “Distortions of Perception,” but it’s not a total djent affair as the song changes and morphs into something Joe Satriani SHOULD do but can’t get out of his own way.
The most interesting number is “Nocturnal Haven” which actually is on the album twice! The first version is the only song with vocals, performed by Between the Buried and Me vocalist Tommy Rogers. The song also has guitarist Jeff Loomis trading solos with the guys. The instrumental version might appeal to those who wanted an all instrumental album but for me, it’s really cool to have Tommy Rogers singing for the band if even for just one song.
Another special guest is bassist Michael Manring who contributes some amazing playing to Synesthesia. The song owes much to freeform jazz as well as blistering metal. “Delusions” is one of my favorite tracks because it shows the dynamics of ATP, heavy riffs along with very mellow melodic breaks.
In a perfect world, Abnormal Thought Patterns would be as famous as Animals as Leaders or Scale the Summit or any of the more popular, yet for me, not as talented instrumental prog bands. Hopefully with the help of Tommy Rogers and the others, people will take notice of “Altered States Of Consciousness” and the Tipton brothers will finally get the larger audience they have always deserved!
Tracklist:
1. Distortions of Perception
2. Nocturnal Haven (with Tommy Rogers and Jeff Loomis)
3. Blindsight
4. Synesthesia (with Michael Manring)
5. Delusions
6. Nocturnal Haven (instrumental version with Jeff Loomis)
7. Subliminal Perception
Playing time: 43:01
Release date: 29 June, 2015
Label: Lifeforce Records
Website: www.abnormalthoughtpatterns.com
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I was really disappointed when Oceansize broke up a few years back. I loved every album they did, so I was really happy that lead vocalist Mike Vennart decided to make a solo album. “The Demon Joke” is very much in line with everything that Oceansize did. It would be virtually impossible for Mike to completely change his style and, after all, Oceansize were always progressing and tweaking their sound.
“The Demon Joke” would fit nicely next to “Frames” or the follow-up full length “Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up.” “The Demon Joke” isn’t as heavy as “Frames” nor is it as subdued as “Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up.” Stylically, the album has prog elements along with some power pop and some shoegaze. The opening track “255” is a synth laden track with big guitars, while the first single “Operate” (which was released as a demo before the album) is a catchy shoegaze anthem.
“Don’t Forget the Joker” is the latest video from the album. It would easily fit on a Trail of Dead album, a band also on SuperBall. The song is slower and features one of Mike’s best vocal performances, almost a soul performance. “A Weight in the Hollow” is one of my favorite tracks with has a Sigur Rós verse to it, quite peaceful. The chorus is dreamy shoegaze at its best.
Oceansize fans should be very pleased with “The Demon Joke.” If we can’t have a reunion, at least we have something that is damn close. Vennart has proven that he was the heart of the band. While I will still hope that Oceansize returns, if they don’t, I want more from Mr. Vennart!
Tracklist:
1. 255
2. Doubt
3. Infatuate
4. Rebirthmark
5. Duke Fame
6. Don’t Forget The Joker
7. Retaliate
8. A Weight In The Hollow
9. Operate
10. Amends
Playing time: 42:28
Release date: 25th May, 2015
Label: SuperBall Records
Website: mikevennart.tumblr.com
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You can sometimes tell a lot about a band based on how they develop album to album. I was able to listen to the previous album by Grey Season “Septem” at the same time as their new release “Invidia.” “Septem” is a basic metalcore album that did nothing for me. The good news is that since that album, they have evolved.
“Invidia” represents a quantum leap forward for Grey Season. Though even with that, it is not without its flaws. But still, the band is clearly changing for the better. The album starts with “Inferiors” which has some metalcore vocals but under it is pure prog metal complete with a beautiful piano finale. The album is like a donut.
I love the ends of it but there is a hole in the middle! “Reflections” has an awesome riff to start it, “Reclusive Years” is another solid prog metal track. “Maere” is the real departure which shows just how far Grey Season have come. It has an incredible vocal over a peaceful guitar and piano arrangement. It shows what this band is capable of. And that makes the next few songs all the more disappointing. They aren’t as bad as the tracks from “Septem,” but the middle of this album does revert slightly backward to their older sound.
Things are corrected by the time we get to “Pandemic Winter” which has a very large dramatic feel to it. The only issue with it is that the vocal is a bit over the top, basically yelling rather than singing. “Red Forest” might be my favorite track on the album with a nice use of electric piano. The vibe of “Red Forest” and the epic that follows it, “Black Seas of Infinity,” is VERY progressive. I think both of these tracks outline the direction that Grey Season SHOULD go in. Time will tell.
The good news about “Invidia” is that the album shows a young band that is finding its sound and growing. The bad news is that the band is like an awkward teenager in the process of maturing. Sometimes things don’t quite work but you can tell they are still growing.
Tracklist:
- Inferiors
- Reflections
- Reclusive Years
- Maere
- Invidia
- Captain Trips
- Pandemic Winter
- Red Forest
- Black Seas Of Infinity
- Venenum
Playing time: 62:24
Release date: 26th June, 2015
Label: Noizgate Records
Website: grey-season.de