The trio of Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse), Hannes Grossmann (Obscura), and Ron Jarzombek, better known as Blotted Science, are back with a new 4 track EP titled The Animation of Entomology, an instrumental barrage of complex sounds that draws inspiration from Jarzombek's fascination with insects. Instrumental music about bugs you say? Apparently, yes.
If you are familiar with the debut from these three a few years ago, you know the musicianship is going to be stellar, and they don't disappoint one bit. "Cretaceous Chasm" is a blazing excercise in dexterity, with Jarzombek's guitar lines dazzling in between nimble bass from Webster and Grossman's insane drum fills. This is super complex stuff for those that like their progressive metal uber technical. "Ingesting Blattaria" starts off in rampaging death metal fashion before proggy keyboards kick in, then some jazz-fusion lead breaks, ultimately turning into a wild prog metal romp. "Vermicular Asphyxiation" is another reckless number, perhaps a tad too wild for its own good, and the four part "A Sting Operation" sees the trio pulling out all the stops for a real progressive metal tour-de-force.
Some might find The Animation of Entomology a bit cold and too much of a shred fest, and it is to a certain degree, but you just can't ignore the talent on display here. I would have rated this a little higher, but the EP is pretty short and I'm most will salivate over this and just leave wanting more. Hopefully the guys will get another full-length in our hands sometime soon so we can experience more of their musical brilliance.
Track Listing
1. Ingesting Blattaria
2. Cretaceous Chasm
3. Vermicular Asphyxiation
4. A Sting Operation: I. Human Barbequed
A Sting Operation: II. Cessation Sanitation
A Sting Operation: III. Seeing Dead People
A Sting Operation: IV. Omitting Eyes