Of The Sun: Before A Human Path

Eight years on from their AM Radio debut, Texas threesome Of The Sun return with a brand of the extreme they dub southern progressive metal. It's a fair description, a technical mix of riffs, sprawling lead work, snarled vocals and excellent clean singing, all wrapped up in some amazingly tight song structures and the ability to vary attack at will.

Opening pair, "The Tightrope Mile" and "Nebulamorphous" set the scene, howls of guitar and vocals rushing at you with a real sense of menace, but also with a brutal beauty. Riffs are broken up by bursts of bass and guitar that run from groove laden power-pops and spikey fret excursions to sweet little melodies and thunderous explosions. That "Cantos" follows it up with an almost Eastern mysticism that reminds of Orphaned Land taking on Soundgarden, confuses the picture, but also guarantees that you'll never sit in expectancy of generic fare, Of The Sun being a band not caring whether you feel 'comfortable' in their company. Instead the trio are more interested in what makes for eclectic listening. Some of the more extremely minded out there may take issue with that, while some of the more tradition metal or progressive set will be thoroughly flummoxed by the intensity of what sits either side of the melodically fixated interludes. Either way, these diversions arrive with excellent vocals, a real poise and a non-aggressive drama that you otherwise wouldn't expect from the same band that hits as hard as the unapologetically screaming "The Limbless God". Although here too, different aspects and moods are gleefully thrown into the pot. Leaving "A Soliloquy" to be an angry singular outburst that, while more progressive and less heavy than some moments here, is possibly the most abrasive selection on show.

Not for the fainthearted, Of The Sun is a welcome diversion from the norm.

Track Listing
1. The Tightrope Mile
2. Nebulamorphous
3.Cantos
4. A Soliloquy
5. The Limbless God

Added: February 20th 2017
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Of The Sun online
Hits: 1469
Language: english

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