Release Date: March 13th 2022. Record Label: Tolerable Records Format: DD
Psychtect - S/T - Tracklisting
1.Necropolis 06:51
2.Afterlife 07:46
3.House of Glass 10:14
4.The Wire 08:21
Members
Matt Lazare
Vincent Gray
Terrence Lust
Review
Psychotect debut self-titled EP is a very dark and psychedelically strange affair with the band moving between heavy distorted themes and adverse prog metal grooves. The end result could be quite distracting for some especially with the heavy distorted and industrial based sounds in the few moments of opening song Necropolis.
The atmosphere falls between Post-Punk and Gothic sensibilities especially with the lyrical and vocal content but the music mostly flies between Prog Doom and Prog Stoner Metal. This isn’t going to be for everyone but I was hooked by the middle of the first song especially when the band started playing a more experimental and aggressive style of Prog Metal with flashes of Technical style grooves and industrial based breakdowns.. The vocals are not what you expect and the atmosphere can be considered “Jazz” based in places but it’s a highly intoxicating mix of the more extreme side of Stoner Metal.
The EP contains four tracks and lasts around thirty three minutes in length. Psychotext carry on with the crazed and experimental themes of the opening song and take it to the “Nth” degree for the second track Afterlife which is one of the standout tracks. There are wild distorted riffs yet again with more technical based instrumental work that you don’t hear that often in the realm of Stoner Metal and the menacing death based growls that throw Psychotect into the more Death Metal/Extreme Metal arena than anything else.
The “true” standout track is the thrilling third track House Of Glass where Psychotect once again change musical style and tactics for the whole duration with the band deciding what decade of Heavy Metal they want to solely use for this track. There’s many different parts and movements to this song that pulls the listener into a more soulful and extreme slice of Doom/Stoner Metal. The song's main strength is a wonderful and uplifting vocal performance from the band that has an 80's Soft Rock influence to it all. Though, given a more "Extreme" makeover. You'll understand when you listen to the song.
If you’re in the mood for big flashy and technical sounding Progressive Doom/Stoner Metal release then Psychotect may be the experimental trip you’re looking for. If not then it’s perhaps best to find your musical kicks elsewhere.
The EP can be too clever for its own good and I will admit I would have enjoyed some slower paced grooves along the way to break up the fast-paced nature of the release. However, Psychotect have released a highly original EP that blends the vision of Progressive Stoner Metal with the technical riff-wizardry of harsher styles of Extreme Metal into the mix.
This is a thought-provoking and action packed release that will surprise the hell out of you but only if you’re prepared to invest your time and effort with this EP.
Words by Steve Howe
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