Search - Irepress :: Samus Octology

Irepress ~Samus Octology~

RaY RaY Pine | Philly | 09/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mesmerizing. Atmospheric. Challenging. Intuitive. Epic.



Those are words I would use to describe Irepress, a highly progressive instrumental metal band from Massachusetts. With thick layers of distortion and intricate guitar leads that tug at your mind while allowing you to slip deeper and deeper into the oblivion of a perceived white noise until you're rudely awakened by the melody of a changing theme, Irepress have managed to walk the line between genius and car crash and come out on the other side with an incredible album in their hands and in our ears.



An album of this magnitude can be overwhelming because the band is challenging the mindset of music in the same way Explosions in the Sky are. Long winding passages of instrumental melody that are attacked with intricate riffing that can leave as quickly as it they've come.



Instead of straight droning Irepress explores the dynamics of the guitar and allows new life to breathe within them--harkening newer Deftones and the explosive, yet temperamental nature of Saturday Night Wrist. The delay riddled leads that fill space along with palm muted triplet riffs underneath create enough metallic edge to keep technical metal heads glued to their seats but the band is quirky. They use dissonance, feedback and ambiance to keep everyone else interested. You can hear the Sigur Ros as much as the Meshuggah, but its Sigur with balls and Meshuggah with a more dynamic, experimental sound. Very California rock.



The songs should be taken in as a whole and listened to the same way you'd listen to a classical piece; with an undivided attention to detail. DiNapoli and Silverberg will get the credit they deserve in ten years when people look back on this disc the same way people now look at Isis as one of the land marks of modern metal. They've crafted a modern work of art here.



The ambient twists and metallic turns of this forty five minute opus should keep any progressive metal head guessing, any technical metal head thinking and any lover of music enthralled.



This is my album of the year right now, no one comes even close.

"

The most soothing, confusing, obliterating music you'll ever

Marc Tomko | Southington, CT USA | 06/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These songs pack a powerful punch. Rhythmically they are a force to be recokned with. The atmosphere of these songs is deep, I feel like I'm in a different place while listening. The ambient guitar rhythms and riffs are amazingly soothing, perfect music to fall asleep to, until.... Metal in its smartest form, off time rhythms, odd time signatures, heavy riff's, breaks, and building. Then back into the calm serenity for a break..



The dynamics on this album are incredible, the musicians at work here are VERY talented, and very creative (its hard to find those in combination these days)



Buy this cd if you like music, you will not be dissapointed."