Optic: Iris In

The headlines will read: "Brilliant debut by American Progressive-melodic -symphonic -tech metal band Optic is turning heads and earns 4.5 stars from Sea of Tranquility."

Technical song structures, multiple vocal deliveries, shifting tempos and odd time signatures, keyboard sorcery, hook-laden choruses, and so forth. These lads have just opened for Fates Warning and their selection was a no-brainer. They are the next generation of prog-metal.

In the middle of track 2 "Falling from the Sky" I had to remind myself what song was playing. I realized the song had gotten quite warped, diverging from the original tempo and feel, through composed sections and keyboard/guitar solos and ended up coming around to rephrase the opening riff of the song. In words this seems pretty average but, being longer than ten minutes, this is the territory of an epic.

I've just detected a musical line in Track 5 "Moment of Impact" (instrumental) that quotes a melody from Track 3. This is another example of thoughtful and creative songwriting.

"Drown the Earth" is a bombastic epic that includes many extreme metal elements; black metal vocal sections, symphonic metal keyboards, and progressive metal's odd meters.

The optimum score has been reduced by ½ a star because the production does have room for improvement but that's really nit-picking at this point. This is an exciting and diverse recording from a group of young guys following in the footsteps of East Coast prog-metal pioneers from a prior generation. Support independent progressive metal and visit Optic's Bandcamp page to purchase Iris In.

Track Listing
1. Hemlock 2:27
2. Blind Apathy 6:45
3. Falling from the Sky 10:44
4. Breathe New Life 6:23
5. Moment of Impact 6:14
6. Withhold The Sun 6:02
7. Drown The Earth 13:18
8. Etched in Grey 5:17

Added: December 19th 2013
Reviewer: Ryan Good
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 1810
Language: english

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