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Metal is by far the most divergent genre in the history of music. Since the late sixties, it has been evolving, growing and changing without ever loosing the backbone of the genre: heavy guitars and pounding drums. They're like the DNA of metal and without them you wouldn't have any thrash, speed, death, black, nu- or whatever subgenre. This urge to evolve and become better has been driving the style for years and will firmly drive it into the future as well. Progressive metal is a prime example of this urge and Derivate is planning to take things further.
This quartet from Geneva, Switserland, was announced to us only recently, several months after this e.p. was released. However, great demand has requested a repress so here we are, reviewing the hell out of it. This five-track album is now available on CD and digitally. If you're a progressive metalhead, you ought to check it out. This just might be something up your alley. Derivate has been working on this effort since its inception, some five years ago. They reach back to the riff-loaded history of metal and give the whole a very modern spin that even flits with nu-metal and jazz.
One name that often comes to mind, is Openth, which is not really a surprise in the progressive rock and metal worlds. With elements from mathrock, symphonic metal and nu-metal, these Swiss have releases a highly adventurous album. Intense agression and technical mastership create a number of movements where bands like Katatonia or Baroness are never far away. However, somehow it seems like Derivate is also influenced by more classic rock bands like Pink Floyd. The result is a very mature sounding e.p. with some awesome tracks.
'Movement IV - Downfall' is my favourite track on this e.p., probably because of its bombastic and powerful sound that takes us on a trip through rock history. The songs are built-up according to a highly personal and unique approach. This is most notable in the fact that the end of each track seems to function as an intro for the next one. Beware however, beneath all the musical craftsmanship there's still a lot of room for some serious headbanging. Quiet, almost dreamy passages are immediately follow by sonic assaults, only to regain the trancy atmosphere a while later.
This debut shows an enthousiastic and energetic bunch of talented musicians who are still (and continuously) looking to grow and evolve. As a debut, this is very promising and I'm sure we will hear a lot of stuff that will surprise and awe us in the near future. But for now, it's time to prove their talents on stage because that's where we metalhead live...
Serge
This quartet from Geneva, Switserland, was announced to us only recently, several months after this e.p. was released. However, great demand has requested a repress so here we are, reviewing the hell out of it. This five-track album is now available on CD and digitally. If you're a progressive metalhead, you ought to check it out. This just might be something up your alley. Derivate has been working on this effort since its inception, some five years ago. They reach back to the riff-loaded history of metal and give the whole a very modern spin that even flits with nu-metal and jazz.
One name that often comes to mind, is Openth, which is not really a surprise in the progressive rock and metal worlds. With elements from mathrock, symphonic metal and nu-metal, these Swiss have releases a highly adventurous album. Intense agression and technical mastership create a number of movements where bands like Katatonia or Baroness are never far away. However, somehow it seems like Derivate is also influenced by more classic rock bands like Pink Floyd. The result is a very mature sounding e.p. with some awesome tracks.
'Movement IV - Downfall' is my favourite track on this e.p., probably because of its bombastic and powerful sound that takes us on a trip through rock history. The songs are built-up according to a highly personal and unique approach. This is most notable in the fact that the end of each track seems to function as an intro for the next one. Beware however, beneath all the musical craftsmanship there's still a lot of room for some serious headbanging. Quiet, almost dreamy passages are immediately follow by sonic assaults, only to regain the trancy atmosphere a while later.
This debut shows an enthousiastic and energetic bunch of talented musicians who are still (and continuously) looking to grow and evolve. As a debut, this is very promising and I'm sure we will hear a lot of stuff that will surprise and awe us in the near future. But for now, it's time to prove their talents on stage because that's where we metalhead live...
Serge
