Ready for some transcendental djent? You'd better be. Modern Day Babylon is an (awesome) instrumental progressive group out of the Czech Republic. This is the latest EP, The Ocean Atlas, and boy is it just great. Say what you will about instrumental and djent, but the killer songwriting here is undeniable.
If you're like me and dug Periphery's first two albums, I have a hard time believing you won't like this. Even further, if you don't like clean singing in your metal, I suppose this takes care of that problem for you. Even so, after the Fall of Troyish intro chords, my mind kept mentally putting Spencer's growls and vox all over "Water Drops." It's not like I was trying, the music is just similar and emotive enough to go there.
"Illusion" takes similar strides, but the effects-heavy riffs also reminded me of Born of Osiris at times. Whatever comparisons you might draw, the key point is that these songs are lush with melody, progression, and hooks. Not a moment of downtime occurs in these 5 tracks. I could do without the remix, but that's really an afterthought after such an uplifting emotional experience.
As is often the case with an EP, my only complaint is that I want more music. Just when I really get going, it's over. Those riffs are just so damn tasty. Still, I am very impressed at how much action is packed within the relatively brief runtime. You definitely need to check this one out for yourself. It's 7 Euro to buy, and for the quality that may not be unfair.