The Pitch: Boston-based progressive death metal band Replacire from Season of Mist unleash hell with an incredible display of technical ability and songwriting prowess. Gigan, BTBAM, Coma Cluster Void, Alkaloid, Dillinger Escape Plan
What I Like: Oh man, what a release day for SoM. We got the insane black metal of Dodecahedron AND this progressive, technical beast? I had never heard of Replacire before, but you'd better believe I won't be forgetting their name any time soon. From the ferocious, no holds barred "Horsestance" all the way to "Enough For One," these guys will surely light up every pleasure center of your brain like a goddam Christmas village. Amazing talent and curious, original songwriting on display here. Do Not Deviate is a stunning amalgamation of brutal death metal vocals, Dillinger Escape Plan riffs, thrash mentality, and a few surprises as well. If not for the growls, "Act, Re-enact" could have easily been a leftover track from Calculating Infinity or Miss Machine. Other tracks make me think more of Dream Theater or Between The Buried and Me with appropriately proggy clean vocals and piano joining forces with the jazz-infused chaos.
What I Don't Like: Not a goddam thing. Another easy contender for album of the year and it's only March.
The Verdict: If it were socially acceptable, I would do very bad things to this record. Unspeakable things. If you like your music proggy, technical, and with a variety of influences then you need to buy this right now.
Flight's Fav's: Horsestance, Act, Re-enact, Spider Song, all of them