UK: rain, fish & chips, the Queen of England, the Beatles; but also one of the most underrated bands in the Rock/Metal (especially Metal) scene of the last 20 years.
Pioneers of a progressive and ever-changing Tech/Math Metal, which after a few years and a few albums would become the so-called "Djent," thanks to the contributions of Meshuggah, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and a few others (including SiKth, indeed), on their second release they propose a sound made of extremely odd times, super low-tuned guitars (6 strings a semitone down, with the sixth string in G#), vocals inspired by the more modern Korn, a funky bass, and an overall incredibly powerful rhythm section.
An interesting cocktail, especially for the times when Metalcore was exploding and the "Nu" Metalheads were indeed shifting towards new sounds: songs like Part of the Friction, Bland Street Bloom, Summer Rain represent true masterpieces unfortunately underrated at the time of this aforementioned, indeed, masterpiece release, while the rest of the tracklist maintains a level that fluctuates between grand and excellent, one above all, the jazzy and progressive When the Moment's Gone, one of the best tracks of the bunch.
A damned fresh and innovative sound, heavily copied in the coming years, almost immeasurably, not to mention the countless clone and similar bands born thanks to this band and this album in particular (Fellsilent, etc.), naturally citing also the various "tributes" from big bands like Periphery and Monuments, who have publicly cited the English band as a major inspiration for their music.
In short, an "old" offering but one that is absolutely not to be missed for those who want to listen to truly exceptional music, and above all, to understand how the "Heavy" genre has evolved over the last 20 years.
Jewel.
So unusual, intricate, inconceivable, crazy, but above all sincere and spontaneous, capable of shattering and sweeping away all sorts of stereotypes and barriers.
Albums like this don’t come out often, bands like this are rare, and the fact that they have leaned more towards metal can be liked or not, because it is subjective.
The mood is decidedly darker and oppressive, and the album’s title is absolutely indicative of the feeling of 'death inside.'
An album half-successful with much technicism and few ideas. A real shame for a band that had so much promise.