This is an album for djentlemen and metalheads alike. Id completely blew me away. For those of you who don't know, Veil of Maya is a progressive/death metal band from the good ole Windy City. Marc Okubo is without a doubt one of my favorite guitarists. His chording techniques, alternate picking and sweeping sequences, and the layering and harmonizing he does as the bands only axe-man is simply beautiful. The rhythms and patterns are complex but don't make the band inaccessible to those not familiar with djent. The bass is what sets this band apart in alot of cases, as Matthew Pantelis cuts through the mix with his own separate counterpoint and melodies, completely independent of Marc. Brandon Butler is an insane frontman/vocalist, even though his highs are a little raw for my liking. Last, and most certainly not least is Sam Applebaum on drums.Wow. Here is a drummer who is singularly talented with his feet, his hands, and his timing. His use of the cymbals is always just what the song calls for; he knows when to go all out on the kick drums and when to hold back, and his fills are so tight and precise he sounds like a drum machine on some parts of the album.
This is the album that sets this band apart, in my opinion. Their sound makes me think of the Faceless, Animals as Leaders, and other such bands. "Codex" was one my favorite tracks simply because it brought back the beautiful "It's Not safe to Swim Today" riff one one of the guitar tracks, but still managed to retain its own identity as a separate song. Buy this album, get into this band, because their musicianship, professional ability and overall ability are going to be worth every penny.
tracklisting:
- Id
- Unbreakable
- Dark Passenger
- The Higler
- Martyrs (Instrumental)
- Resistance
- Circle (Instrumental)
- Mowgli
- Namaste
- Conquer
- Codex
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