Fugue is the debut album from Baltimore, Maryland based progressive metal outfit Rest Among Ruins, led by current Raunchy vocalist Mike Semesky and also featuring guitarist Ben Schmitz and drummer Geoff Palmer. It's a 14 song concept album dealing with a patient that Semesky met while working at a psychiatric hospital back before he got into music. This patient was suffering through a rare clinical condition as a result of a severe traumatic incident, and going through life under a fictitious identity which his mind had created. His journey so greatly affected the vocalist that he's decided to create a whole album to tell the fascinating story, utilizing elements of heavy metal and prog rock to make it all happen.
If you have an affection for some of the more recent progressive/djent metal bands like Periphery, Tesseract, or even Between the Buried and Me, all who mesh complex prog-metal, death metal, and soaring pop melodies, chances are Fugue is really going to hit home for you. Plenty of super crunchy riff-o-rama rampaging about, as well as intricate 'widdly-widdly' video game styled guitar leads jacked by acrobatic drum work, but as impressive as the musical passages are here (and they are), it's Semesky's multi-textured vocal harmonies and wide array of styles that really takes Fugue to another level. One minute he has your heart in the palm of his hand with soaring, gorgeous melodic clean vocals, and the next he blasts in with rampaging death metal growls not unlike vintage Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth. It's not all crushing metal, so be on the lookout for some tracks that boast sumptuous keyboard textures, acoustic guitars, and melodic electric guitar patterns, further adding to the variety factor that can be found on this very thrilling album.
I know I've kind of said it already, but I can't stress enough how good the vocals are on this CD. Simesky is a major talent, and I think his stock is going to go way up after fans hear all that he has to offer on Fugue. Throw in some fabulous songwriting/storytelling, virtuoso guitar & drum work, and you have a total winner in Fugue.
Track Listing
1. Beyond The Storm
2. In Another's Skin
3. Before You Speak
4. Sign To Surrender
5. Bled Letter
6. In Focus
7. Reach The Edge [feat Aleka Farha]
8. Nothing Else
9. Cleanse The Sky
10. Siren City
11. Everyones Glowing Home
12. Guide My Way
13. Stranded In The Balcony
14. Fugue
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