Make a recommendation to a fellow member of The Infinite

Andi & Xephyr, I'd suggest giving this emotionally-charged post-metal release a crack but please be warned that it will need repeat listens for its charms to become fully apparent.

Yet another great post-sludge metal album! 5/5. Cheers for the rec, Daniel! However, I won't immediately start listening to the rest of Neurosis' discography. I'm still an atmospheric sludge metal newbie (other than The Ocean), and tomorrow I plan on getting a few other band discographies, including those two other post-metal bands Cult of Luna and Solstafir. Those two bands would be a good starting point for me right now before I get to the further Neurosis side of atmospheric sludge bridge that I plan on crossing a few weeks later. I'm taking my slow time getting through what I call the "post-sludge elemental star":

Not gonna lie, Okyr's Premorbid Intelligence is definitely gonna change the future of classic progressive metal, and I recommend it to many progressive metal listeners and fans including fellow Metal Academy members Ben, Daniel, Shezma, saxystephens & Xephyr. New guy in the site, the band's bassist Jean Elias would absolutely appreciate your support. Okyr's album is a practically unknown masterpiece that deserves to be heard worldwide!

So I gave "Premorbid Intelligence" a few spins over the last couple of days & really liked what I heard. The band are obviously very talented & focused musicians & they've created a record that continuously challenges the listener. If I was being critical I'd suggest that it definitely sits a little too close to the classic Dream Theater sound though & some of the more ambitious progressive passages can come across as a little messy at times but I think the main thing that differentiates Okyr from a top tier player like early 90's Dream Theater is simply that the vocals lack a little x-factor & the hooks aren't quite anthemic enough to have you humming them in your head for days afterwards. The closing track "Neurosis (& The Attraction Theory)" is a prime example of what can be achieved when you get those hooks just right & it subsequently ended up being my album highlight. The first couple of tracks & the last couple of tracks are outstanding. The four in the middle are pretty enjoyable too but are a step down from the other material. For a first-up effort "Premorbid Intelligence" shows a hell of a lot of potential & I expect to hear bigger & better things from Okyr in the future as this is a much better record than the debut albums from bands like Dream Theater & Fates Warning.

4/5

maudlin of the Well - "Leaving Your Body Map" (2001)

Xephyr & saxy, I'd strongly urge you to give this one a few spins if you haven't already. I slightly prefer it to its also impressive partner album "Bath".

Saxy & Xephyr, I'd suggest you get onto this one. It's exactly what you'd hope it would be.

Another full review I now plan on doing (along with those other releases I've mentioned: https://metal.academy/forum/4/thread/547?page=1#topic_4654), even though I've already rated it and that recommendation wasn't directed to me. I'm gonna be in such a reviewing frenzy this week!

Regarding The Roundhouse Tapes, really solid set. Pretty much a perfect selection of songs that sound fantastic live, which is a pretty big feat given how production focused some of Opeth's stuff is. The only complaint is that "Bleak" sounded a bit thin, but you're absolutely right when you said it was what I hoped it would be. I saw Opeth live here in the states in 2016 or so, when they were touring with Sorceress, and they only played one song that had harsh vocals, I think it was off of Your Arms, My Hearse? In any case, it's exciting to hear Akerfeldt excited and willing to play Opeth's heavy material since this was before the prog-rock swap of Heritage, because during the show I attended he definitely only played one song with growling in order to appease the crowd, not because he really wanted to. You could just kinda tell.

In regards to Bath by maudlin of the well, that record, along with Leaving Your Body Map are an incredible one-two punch that is still unlike anything that you will ever hear within the realms of avant-garde/post-metal. These records are among my most played metal albums of all time.

As for The Roundhouse Tapes, I don't typically listen to live or compilation records, but it was nice to hear some live Opeth. They are a phenomenal group live at recreating their studio sound. The inclusion of "Windowpane" was a welcome touch.

Andi, this month's The Infinite feature release should be right up your alley.

Only a small amount of metalheads have heard of Persefone, a progressive death metal band from a small nation between Spain and France, and that's a shame because their music is so d*mn good. Since Aathma was released in 2017 and the Truth Behind the Shades re-recording in 2020, I'm expecting a new album in the future and maybe also a re-recording of Core. But the original album Core is still an epic masterpiece, and I recommend it to many progressive metal listeners and fans including fellow Metal Academy members Ben, Daniel, MartinDavey87, saxystephens & Xephyr. That Persefone album is a practically unknown masterpiece that deserves to be heard worldwide!

PS: While this album is progressive death metal, it doesn't belong in The Horde. The amount of death in their progressive metal is only as much as other progressive bands like Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, and Disillusion. More info in this thread that is part of my special Horde removal judgement submission week: https://metal.academy/forum/28/thread/688

Persefone is one of those bands that I used to listen to quite a bit, with Aathma turning into my favorite release from them after initially listening to Spiritual Migration. Shin-Ken was an interesting concept album too, but I kind of fell out of them after a while. Never checked out Core though, and I think they're due for a revisit for sure.

I really enjoyed Aathma in 2017 and was one of that years best albums. Tried Spiritual Migration a couple of years ago and was a little bit turned off by the heavier focus on technical rather than progressive. I ought to give this a couple spins as well.

Persefone is one of those bands that I used to listen to quite a bit, with Aathma turning into my favorite release from them after initially listening to Spiritual Migration. Shin-Ken was an interesting concept album too, but I kind of fell out of them after a while. Never checked out Core though, and I think they're due for a revisit for sure.

How about Truth Inside the Shades? I enjoy that debut, though not as much as their other albums. However, their recent re-recording of that album is a grand improvement...

Thanks for the heads up Andi. I’m certainly aware of them but don’t believe I’ve ever checked them out. I’ve added them to my playlist for the next few weeks.

Only a small amount of metalheads have heard of Persefone, a progressive death metal band from a small nation between Spain and France, and that's a shame because their music is so d*mn good. Since Aathma was released in 2017 and the Truth Behind the Shades re-recording in 2020, I'm expecting a new album in the future and maybe also a re-recording of Core. But the original album Core is still an epic masterpiece, and I recommend it to many progressive metal listeners and fans including fellow Metal Academy members Ben, Daniel, MartinDavey87, saxystephens & Xephyr. That Persefone album is a practically unknown masterpiece that deserves to be heard worldwide!

PS: While this album is progressive death metal, it doesn't belong in The Horde. The amount of death in their progressive metal is only as much as other progressive bands like Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, and Disillusion. More info in this thread that is part of my special Horde removal judgement submission week: https://metal.academy/forum/28/thread/688

Thanks for the head up on this one Andi. I really enjoyed it. "Core" kinda sounds like they've crossed classic Dream Theater with Opeth & Ne Obliviscaris & tossed in a little Emperor here & there. It's extremely progressive & your Hall submission is valid in my opinion as there's so much more to this record than the death metal tag could ever indicate. Some of the lead guitar work is stunning & I love the all-round ambition Persefone display for just their second full-length effort. I'm going with a very solid 4/5 rating.

Andi, you'll probably dig this month's Animals As Leaders feature release.

Pain of Salvation - "The Perfect Element I" (2000)

I've actually had this Swedish progressive metal/rock outfit's third album in my playlist for three or four months now since finding that my opinion on Pain Of Salvation's 2002 follow-up "Remedy Lane" had grown over time when I nominated it as our February 'The Infinite' feature release. "The Perfect Element I" was always my favourite Pain Of Salvation record though & that hasn't changed as this is one highly professional release that may not possess as many obvious highlights as its younger sibling but more than makes up for it in class & consistency. As with "Remedy Lane", you'll find that the production isn't the heaviest & is much more in line with a progressive rock model but this isn't an issue as the execution is outstanding. I love the guitar solos which are a definite highlight. The vocal hooks aren't strong enough to be considering my higher scores but this album should be essential listening for fans of Riverside, Leprous & Dream Theater.

Xephyr & saxy, I recommend you give this one a spin if you haven't already.

4/5