Scale the Summit

Distances – Abstruse Review

By Dear Hollow on January 18, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Post-Metal, 17 comments

“In 2013, I attended a concert in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with hopes of seeing Intronaut and Scale the Summit. However, because I’m a good little Hollow, I decided to stop in for the openers. The youth center in which this was played was scrawled with graffiti in the dim lighting, and the stage was a makeshift affair about a foot or less off the ground, and a row of beaten couches comprised the seating. When I was welcomed into the concert area, Albuquerque quartet (at the time) Distances came up, a band whose numbers rivaled the audience members. There we stood, bobbing our heads to a post-metal sound whose colossal quality blew the roof off the shady little venue.” From youth center to center stage.

Nothing Noble – Modern Dismay Review

By Dear Hollow on August 5, 2021 in Reviews, Djent, Metalcore, 8 comments

“I’m not sure how everyone got their start with metal, but there had to be a bit of a transition to the more extreme stuff, unless you eat nails for breakfast while listening to Cryptopsy’s None So Vile. Unlike you sausage or oatmeal or vegemite shippers who are descended from the yesteryears of heavy, thrash, or doom, I enjoy my eggs with my bacon: my origins of Christian metalcore a la Demon Hunter, Haste the Day, and Oh Sleeper stick with me. While metalcore has not been the kindest to me thus far in 2021, I’m always rooting for any that may wander across my lap like a feral kitten. Is Nothing Noble available for adoption?” Dismay Day.

Ghost Toast – Shape Without Form Review

By Master of Muppets on March 14, 2020 in 2020, Hungarian Metal, Instrumental Metal, Inverse Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, 46 comments

“It’s nice to have some actual dialogue after my solitary confinement to Shape Without Form. That’s right, tubthumpers: Ghost Toast are an instrumental band! There’s been a lot of that lately, and I’m not really sure why, but I was bound to deal with something of the sort sooner or later, and now here we are, Ghost Toastin’ it up.” Rye revenants abound.

Cataya – Firn Review

By Master of Muppets on September 25, 2018 in 2018, Ambient Metal, German Metal, Instrumental Metal, Moment of Collapse Records, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Instrumental Metal, 61 comments

“Music is a visual experience for me, so much so that when I see something instrumental smoldering in the Angry Metal Heap ov Dreams, I grow curious rather than cautious. Such was the case with Cataya’s Firn, and I met its four-track challenge with all kinds of optimism: I ain’t afraid of no vox.” Less talk, more mood.

Coldbones – Where It All Began Review

By Master of Muppets on April 14, 2018 in 2018, Crooked Noise Records, English Metal, Instrumental Metal, Post-metal, Post-Rock, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, 37 comments

“I’ve been a fan of England’s Coldbones since the very beginning of this review. Though the trio of Tory’s has been doing their cold and bony thing since at least 2014, I began this adventure with zero prior exposure to these kids from Kent, selecting this one solely for the band name. Progressive shoegaze may be the genre tag, but the imagery evoked by that namesake brought tidings of darkness just as grim as blackened—anything and I was worried that there was too much happiness in my life as of late, so here we are at Where It All Began. Now let’s, like, begin.” Shoe believer.

Tetrafusion – Dreaming of Sleep [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]

By Saunders on January 14, 2018 in 2017, American Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Self-released, Things You MIght Have Missed 2017, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 22 comments

“I’m more of a modern prog dude. Not that I have anything against the classic ’70s era of progressive rock, but aside from a few notable bands, led by the obvious Pink Floyd, I simply haven’t been exposed to a lot of it, despite being a big fan of ’60s and ’70s music, in general. Yeah, I know, it’s something I need to rectify. Luckily, modern prog of the rock and metal variety offers an embarrassment of riches to indulge in.” Prog for the noggin.

Angel Vivaldi – Synapse Review

By Swordborn on October 9, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Seek and Strike, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, 38 comments

“Angel Vivaldi and I have had our brushes in the past, but despite his considerable back catalog, I’ve never found myself with the racing heart and flushed cheeks that many other younger instrumental/shred fans seem to exhibit when his name comes up.” Shred is as shred does.

Cydemind – Erosion Review

By Huck N Roll on May 31, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Progressive Metal, 18 comments

“Welcome to the most self-indulgent genre of metal in existence: the dreaded instrumental progressive metal. Even I, a lowly and slavishly devoted minion of most things prog, cringe when the internet pleads with me to review an instrumental prog album. This music is tough to do well. Often, it’s much easier to simply wank until your wank falls off rather than write captivating songs. To grab my attention, you need something different, and that’s just what Montreal, Canada’s Cydemind have tried to do: they’ve added a violinist to the mix here, hoping to shake up the genre.” Shake the wank before returning to work.

Jardín de la Croix – Circadia Review

By Huck N Roll on December 13, 2016 in 2016, Aloud Music, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Progressive Metal, 6 comments

“Winter nights mean crackling fireplaces, warm sweaters, and mulled cider. They mean snuggling under a comfy blanket in the warmth of your house while you watch snow gently fall outside your window. They mean piping hot stew, thick wool socks, and fluffy cats curled up in your lap. What else provides warmth and comfort like that in the dead of winter? Instrumental progressive metal, of course.” Can you cuddle up to a noodle?

Scale the Summit – V Review

By Kronos on September 18, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, 32 comments

“Although we try to cover the metal scene pretty even-handedly here at Angry Metal Guy, some genres will always get short shrift. While our inbox gets swamped with retro-what have you, orthodox black metal, and your brutal/tech death band of the week, some genres that I like – slam, for instance – rarely make an appearance here. Another one of those genres is modern instrumental prog, a la Animals as Leaders and our band of interest, Scale the Summit.” Instrumental albums are a sticky mistress. No, wait….