January 2024 "The Infinite" Playlist - Metal Academy Radio
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Wtb5QsNObO9w62f7ThQNF?si=215dc5cfbfaa41f0
1. Caligula’s Horse – The World Breathes with Me (2023)
2. Liquid Tension Experiment – Acid Rain (1999)
3. Devin Townsend Project – Higher (2016)
4. Slice the Cake – Homecoming (2020)
5. Sunless Dawn – Grand Inquisitor (2018)
6. Moon Tooth – Nymphaeaceae (2022)
7. Kayo Dot – The Manifold Curiosity (2003)
8. Opeth – Blackwater Park (2021)
9. Somnium de Lycoris – Obstacles in Our Path (2023)
10. Threshold – Elusive (2010)
11. The Contortionist – Return to Earth (2017)
12. Gojira – The Art of Dying (2008)
13. Borknagar – Summits (2023)
14. Ihsahn – Twice Born (2023)
15. In Vain – Season of Unrest (2023)
16. Leprous – Mediocrity Wins (2012)
17. Nöspun – The House at the Beginning (2023)
18. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum – Burn Into Light (2023)
19. VOLA – We Are Thin Air (2018)
Here are my thoughts on some tracks:
Caligula’s Horse – The World Breathes with Me (2023)
4.5/5. The band led by the talented guitarist Sam Vallen and stunning vocalist Jim Grey are back, and HOLY SH*T, this song opens the playlist in amazing heights! The blend of heaviness and beauty is brought back into shape after Leprous lost it 10 years prior. No way will this ever disappoint!
Liquid Tension Experiment – Acid Rain (1999)
4/5. An untouchable piece from this instrumental band with bassist Tony Levin (NOT Walter White, despite who he looks like) and 3 of the guys from Dream Theater (John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, and Jordan Rudess). After two wild progressive minutes, things slow down for some tribal percussion almost like it's from the George of the Jungle soundtrack. Then the keyboards rise for under a minute, then a cowbell is struck, in queue for Petrucci to play some sick riffing and soloing. Then over the 4-minute mark, things heat up, sounding similar to Riot's take on "Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway". And after all that, the last few seconds of guitar fiddling ends it smoothly.
Devin Townsend Project – Higher (2016)
4.5/5. Canadian metal mastermind Devin Townsend continues to bring his sound to higher places. The most glorious part of this epic is the last chorus that starts the final two minutes. An absolute tear-jerker!
Kayo Dot – The Manifold Curiosity (2003)
5/5. This one has so much to explore, as more instruments and vocal styles are added to the arsenal. 4 and a half minutes into the track, the soft ambience is broken by a melodic explosion with a huge variety of jazzy instruments that not a lot of metal bands can add without tainting their sound. From the 10-minute mark onwards, there's more intense chaos. How intense?! It's actually in the same level as Strapping Young Lad with Converge-like screaming rage, especially at the very end with a brief moment of grind-ish metalcore. A truly heavy and artsy epic!
Opeth – Blackwater Park (2021)
5/5. The epic title finale of this band's magnum opus continues the complex structure, adding in some of the later rhythm atmosphere. All I'm gonna note is how majestic the ending is, when the band unleash all their power before hitting the brakes in a bang.
The Contortionist – Return to Earth (2017)
4.5/5. Another amazing song to love and rock on to!
Gojira – The Art of Dying (2008)
4/5. Gojira's songs can be considered a heavy mix of Meshuggah and TOOL. The lyrics fit well with the title, as the philosophical lyrics, especially the first verse, detail the pain and depression of real-life and the peace and tranquility of the afterlife, relating well to our hardships of life. So it's not always the environment this French progressive metal bands always sings about. Beautiful rhythm appears from the 6-minute mark onwards, for their typical dose of progressive melody.
Leprous – Mediocrity Wins (2012)
3.5/5. The vocals by Einar Solberg are so unique, fitting well for the Opeth gone TOOL vibe. And the tasty bass that starts over the one-minute mark is also pretty good. Other than that, the song is a little too strange, and doesn't really reach its necessary height. In a battle for good quality, mediocrity wins...