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| Key Release: Prehistoricisms (2008) |
Just when you think Intronaut can’t twist and grow any more,
it knocks down another musical wall and continues on its way. This
nigh-unclassifiable Californian quartet has changed the game with every release
– from Meshuggah-slaying debut Void to
stoner-jazz tour-de-force Valley of
Smoke, every album has been different from the last and enjoyable for new
reasons. It’s fascinating listening to the group’s breakthrough opus Prehistoricisms and hearing
the difference between two consecutive songs; take, for instance, the
meticulously planned polyrhythms and explosive drumming of “Australopithecus”,
immediately followed by “The Reptile Brain,” whose impressively authentic
Indian raga impression foregoes technicality entirely for an otherworldly trip
into Eastern melody and meditation.
In contrast to the way bands like Between the Buried and Me
and Periphery aim to impress with instrumental wizardry, Intronaut’s virtuosity
supports a more emotional purpose. Danny Walker and Joe Lester comprise one of
the more formidable rhythm sections in heavy music, but rather than being
flashy, their creative arrangements add prodigious depth to songs. With
Intronaut’s increased emphasis on atmospheric elements, this holistic approach
to songwriting is integral to the success of its most recent albums.
Continuing its evolution from a sludge metal outfit to a
progressive powerhouse, Intronaut landed a headlining tour this summer in
support of its newest album, Habitual
Levitations. The group’s most accessible effort yet – and the first without
harsh vocals – Levitations is an
example of an excellent metal band showing that they’re just plain an excellent
band. While Cynic and Opeth have fans grumbling about their lighter new
directions, it’s hard to lament the way that Intronaut is going about its
business. Music lovers no longer have an excuse to disregard metal as a whole
for being too “angry” or “mindless” — Intronaut has been knocking on the door
for years, and if it keeps up its current pace, it just might blow the roof off
popular notions of what metal is capable of.
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