The Pitch: 4-piece instrumental progressive metal band, Outrun The Sunlight, from Chicago share their latest EP. FFO Russian Circles, Chronologist, Modern Day Babylon
What I Like: This EP opens up with the very drifty and dreamy "Red Bird." So soft as to bare little attachment to what could be called "metal," aside from some of Deftones' more atmospheric, post-metal moments. It's a very chill, meditative start, but things are about to pick up a little. As the album presses on, the heaviness factor bubbles up without necessarily boiling over. The head-bobbing basslines and sometimes thunderous distortion in these moments definitely reminds me of Russian Circles albums like Enter and Geneva. Overall, the duration of this EP strikes an excellent balance between getting me moving and then returning to a place of stillness.
What I Don't Like: Call me a knuckle-dragger, but I could do with just a little more of the heavy side from these guys, as well as just more of a signature flair to help them stand out. It's hard enough to get yourself out there as an instrumental band, so it may take a little special something to step up.
The Verdict: A blissful 30 minutes of post-metal goodness from my old stomping grounds. I wasn't sure if I was going to give this one full coverage, but they won me over with their balanced compositions (and I always gotta help a fellow Chicagoan out). Get it Friday.
Flight's Fav's: Synergy, The Danger of Alignment