Hermit’s Maze - Every Dream Has Its Bleakness

 

Band: Hermit’s Maze

Album:  Every Dream Has Its Bleakness

Release date: November 13, 2020

Record label: self-released

Genre: Progressive instrumental metal

From: Buenos Aires, Argentina

 


Hermit’s Maze is an instrumental band from Buenos Aires, Argentina that elects to keep its members, how many there are, and what instruments they play, a secret. The EP “Every Dream Has Its Bleakness” is the bands 3rd offering, and contains 5 tracks, all instrumentals. 

 

The band has many references to 80s and early 90s progressive rock and metal, as well as some more modern riffing. At times they remind of such great bands as Sieges Even and Queensryche.

 

The band is very atmospheric, both in the use of melody, pauses and background synthesizers. There are also some sampled sounds to expand beyond the traditional band instruments.

 

The band makes good use of various rhythms and rhythm changes, as well as change in dynamics and choice of instruments to make the instrumentals more interesting. I like the use of acoustic or clean guitars and piano on calmer parts. 

 

There are some sudden changes that keeps the listener on their toes and many creative ideas that will be liked by many prog fans, me included.

 

The albums is well produced, and I like the choice of a wet mix, where everything melts together into a whole soundscape.

 

While this is an instrumental band, I really miss vocals, particularly on some of the more riff based parts of the compositions. I think adding vocals would give the push this music needs to reach a broader audience, and would strengthen the storytelling of the band. 

 

 Check out the bands music on bandcamp: https://hermitsmaze.bandcamp.com/
And follow them facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hermits.maze.band

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rhabstallion – Back in the Saddle

Image
I want to thank Epic Metal Blog and ZYX Music for sending me this album to review. Band: Rhabstallion Album: Back in the Saddle Release date: 12th of March 2021 Record label: ZYX music Germany / Golden Core label Genre: Heavy metal / Heavy rock From: West Yorkshire, UK While Rhabstallion had a song released as early as 1980 (their song Chain Reaction was featured on the sampler album New Electric Warriors), they never got to release a full album before they broke up in 84. With them reuniting in 2018, they finally recorded the album Back In The Saddle, which was released 12 th of March 2021. This album features original members,  Dave Thompson and Stuart Toddington on guitars, Jack Himsworth on drums, Graham Hooper on bass from the 1979 line up. They are joined by Andy Wood on guitar and lead vocals who had previously been in the Rhabstallion line up between September 1981 to 1984.   With many of these songs being from the 80s, I find it natural to com
Read more

Moonscape - Entity, Chapter II: Echoes from a Cognitive Dystopia

Image
  Band: Moonscape Album:   Entity, Chapter II: Echoes from a Cognitive Dystopia Release date: November 23, 2020 Record label: self released Genre: Progressive metal, epic metal, melodic death metal From:   Gjøvik, Norway   After hearing “Entity” by Moonscape, I knew I had to get to hear the new album “Entity, Chapter II” and I’m very happy that Håvard Lunde submitted it to me for review.   “Entity, Chapter II: Echoes from a Cognitive Dystopia” continues the story started in “Entity”. The album consists of 4 tracks: 3 main compositions, from 8 to almost 17 minutes each, as well as an orchestral prelude that sets a quite epic mood for the album.   Each of the 4 main compositions have quite distinct parts, with their own names and moods that fit into the overall theme of each composition, like in a classical orchestra piece. At the same time, each of the 4 compositions fits seamlessly together, so that one doesn’t notice that one
Read more

Moonscape - If Heaven Knows My Name

Image
Band: Moonscape Single:  If Heaven Knows My Name / 2. A Rendezvous in Time? (Alt. Version) Release date: November 25th 2022 Record label: Self released Genre: Progressive Metal, epic metal, melodic death metal From:   Gjøvik, Norway   I was happy to receive 2 tracks from Håvard Lunde of Moonscape for a review.  The first track, “If Heaven Knows My Name” is a solid prog metal track with elements most should find appealing.   I’ve always compared Moonscape with Ayreon, and this track is probably the closest to Ayreon I’ve heard by this band so far, even if there’s only one singer. In addition there’s a very cool synth Aaron Minich (Nekrogoblikon) and heavy riffing that makes me think of Symphony X. If that wasn’t enough, there is a melodic lead guitar that reminds me of Opeth in the transition period from melodic death metal to prog. I like the drums, that I still find hard to believe to be programmed, probably because Håvard Lunde started out as a drummer and t
Read more