Brutai will turn your world upside down

Bands go through evolutional steps. It's like we all are going through changes, changes and even more changes. The progressive rockers Brutai recently went through one of these steps and are back with a brand new track.

Stranger Things inspired Artwork by Mark Leary @ Asylum Seventy7

That's what came to my mind when I listened to the brand new Brutai single. It came as a surprise to me. "Upside down" has a different soundstyle. It's less rough and the ongoing rhythm is set a bit slower yet it constantly moves along with the melodies and the many layers inside of the track. The mix of the new single is more detailed than ever. The progressive rockers seem to have given more room for a expanded sound experience with deeper emotions and breathing atmosphere.

Lyrically this one also comes with a special message. Felix Lawrie, vocals and guitars, says this about 'Upside Down'

“Upside Down is semi-inspired by the series Stranger Things. It relates to people being in situations that they can’t see a way out of, and it’s about asking people for help. It’s about being in an ‘upside down’ universe and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. Empathy is the core emotion we hope people take away from this. The soundscapes are somewhat eerie and we felt Halloween was the perfect time to launch this track as an interlude to our new material from album 2."

You can download the track in any format from http://www.brutai.bandcamp.com alongside merch bundles and the final physical copies of the band's debut album 'Born'.

'Upside Down' is also available on iTunes and Spotify.

Brutai will return to the stage in December for the Incendia Music Christmas Party as the headline act. The band will also perform at HRH Metal in February.

Tickets for Brutai's headline show in December can be bought here.

Now having reverted to unsigned status again, the band recommencew their journey. Make sure to follow Brutai on this way.

www.facebook.com/brutai
@Brutaiband
Brutai.bandcamp.com

CD Review: aeons end - IMAGO (Post Progressive Metal, 2016)

Speaking of bands that sound different this progmetal band from Rostock, Germany often comes to my mind. They have such a own attempt and sound so separate from all the other music that I always need some time to get into their music. It's seldom that you come across such unique crafted music these days.

The cover of aeon's end IMAGO release, (c) by aeons end, used with kind permission

Summary  
In the beginning you may stumble upon the complexity of the sound and it's many layers it offers. Don't let this stop you. I needed some rounds, too. It's overwhelming in the beginning but if you show patience the music takes sharp forms step by step.

All of the six tracks sounds destinctively different, slow in tempo and offer a deep and intensive atmosphere while sometimes edgy cuts of guitars shine through. The voice creates a ghost like feeling, sometimes surprising passages come rushing in at moments when you won't think they would come up ( listen to the song "expand" as a example). They are rich at details so listening to them multiple times is something they invite to often. I found myselves coming back to these compositions many times and that's not happening too often.

The tonality becomes rough and louder but never misses out it's fine note so it doesn't change the overall calm and spheric shell in which the music is packed into. Think of music that may surface as the next step in the landscape of progressive metal music.

The tracks have be given one word as if they should act as a impulse to the listener of what could be done next. The packaging doesn't follow other guidelines - you won't even think it needfully shows the sleeve that typically comes with such music packages. Just look at the six words written at the upper part of the round. If you ever had Latin in school like me you may find your knowledge useful at this point...

Album Stream and Purchase-Link
The tunes are given away for the fair amount of 5 Euro as download files in the format of your choice over at Bandcamp. If that's not your favorite place for music Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music and Google Play also offer this outstanding EP in their stores.

Contact-Data
Make sure to see their socials such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube so you'll be notified at least every here about the latest news. The good old homepage that the band created in a beautiful and dedicated graphical style of the EP is surely also a good place for info so you won't miss out how the band evolves further on...

Night Idea blends together complex and catchy prog music elements

How can progressive music evolve further on? On the heavier side of music it is a genre that is often used to bring in new elements to a existing sound. But how can elements of indie add content to a progressive rock act?

I think Night Idea, a band based out of Richmond, VA gives a nice idea how such a thing can work out. Their sound is multi-layered yet it is not too complicated. They set a focus on details when it comes to building songs and this fresh insight into their upcoming record "Breathing Cold" shows that is indeed possible to maintain a constant rhythm and song structure while adding little progressive elements all the way through the song which make the track a exciting listening experience.

Night Ideas second full length album "Breathing Cold" will be released March 25th on JuJu Records. Speaking about the upcoming record the band reveals that it comes with some sort of concept. Built around loose themes, Breathing Cold slowly descends into madness as it unfolds. The album starts very happy-go-lucky and bright, and then in the second half it takes a dark turn.

By the end of the record, the band have traversed through some really dark passages, and the listener is left somewhere completely different from the beginning. It’s a journey intended to be heard in full, a transformative experience for the listener and band alike. Lyrically, Carter Burton (guitar/vocals) has inspiration from all over the place. There isn’t a concrete theme to the lyrics, each song is a separate story. Some songs are about day to day experiences, some of it is existential.

The band Night Idea, (c) by Joey Wharton, used with kind permission

The band has some shows coming up, here's a list of the dates:

3/25: Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry
4/05: Greensboro, NC @ Revolution Cycles
4/06: Savannah, GA @ The Erasery
4/07: Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House
4/08: Wilmington, NC @ Reggies
4/09: Atlanta, GA @ 529
4/14: Larami, WY @ University of Wyoming
4/20: Brooklyn, NY @ Sunny Vale
4/21: Beacon, NY @ Quinns Beacon
4/22: Providence, RI @ Aurora Providnce
4/23: Mystic, CT @ The German Mystic Club
4/28: Harrisonburg, VA @ The Golden Pony
4/30: Dublin, VA @ Progress Festival

Make sure to keep a eye upon the band through their sites on places such as Facebook, Bandcamp or Instagram.