Like the long lost child of Jardin de la Croix. This Nova Scotia group dial down the metal elements of said group and focus on a much more experimental prog focused affair. At times incredibly busy and complex and other times fairly laid back but no less interesting. There's just not enough quality math prog out their and fewer even yet that can incorporate the metal element so seemlessly. Also would like to add for the record....mentioning Jardin in the first sentence of my little entry is a high honor as I feel they really exemplify the math metal genre to its fullest so highest praise sugar lips. This may not be as fun as blowing on a flaming lollipop but I can guarantee it tastes a whole lot better.
Why and how would I have missed this last year?....honestly it makes me weep. But seriously gals and guys
this Malaysian group is instrumental rock at its finest. Need a good marker for a great band? is the drummer constantly laying down the sweet sass behind the kit?
Yes?
Ok!
Be they but two songs, so much character can be found just from the first torch burner that you are left wanting so MUCH M O R E
This trio has a whole lot to offer and with a minimal setup at that. But to call this ode to instrumental math minimal in sound would be a grave error. A healthy amount of experimenting is going on with these three pieces as well. Each songs perfectly sets up its sonic identity followed by the band deconstructing then reforming the song into something else entirely with sharp transitions. You'll wonder how you even arrived...its good just let go bro. The band does tend to linger on ideas which is not necessarily a negative especially with bands these days hastily throwing ideas in the atmosphere that become so much star dust....and not the magical kind. It has a bit of that old school 90's math throwback feel also which I am always 100% behind.
Some mixed meter and shifting times from this solo electro post-hardcore math project — sounds interesting right? Well, that's prolly cause it is. This comes to us from Ireland and is actually a lot funkier than I would have guessed. Something a little different than the standard "r o c k" based biz I bring, so drink up.
Been holding this gem pretty close to my belt. Coming from Canada and largely a solo project of one Noah Michael this beast is restless. In some ways this project is like some kind of alternate dimension version of AM Overcast. I say this because both groups have a preoccupation with math-pop and pop-punk. Not only that but each group has solid grasp on song length (ie short) So why exactly are we here then? to re-hash? not here at the swords. The divergent qualities are what truly make IILS:YLS shine in my opinion. Experimental, noisey, break neck turns and occasionally throw in some heavy break downs. Mixing these elements in with math-pop shouldn't work but like I said short song lengths and incredible execution keeps the flags flying high. Wonderful stuff.
So I'd dare say this wouldn't fit anyone strict definition of math but the influences are pretty clear.
What we have here is a one man project that is based in folk. The sauce starts getting spicy with the heavy introduction of a lot of odd timing, experimentation and some interesting vocal melodies.
Its a recipe for some wonderful and unique music. Not to be missed
For the hours I put in combing the interwebs for interesting maths sometimes the best is delivered right to me. True Aristocrats is one such that right off the bat impresses with its inability to be pegged. Is it Mathy? very much so. Most importantly though are the many other complimentary sounds. Electronic elements, bits of noise and a general sense of experimentation rule roost here. Very much wish I ran into more groups that push themselves like this.
Its also worth saying that those drums are all of the map of awesome town.
Its in everyones best interest to at least give it a look.
Bring in the pastoral post-math rock by way of a drum and guitar duo. Really chilled sounds even when the tempo heats up a bit. Is it a coincidence one of these songs is named "My Little Viking"? hmm I'll let you be the judge.
Provide some serious instrumental math magic. Nice and Energetic vibe's and some solid melodies running through this beast. Be sure to check out their last release as well. UK based with enough to ground them in some similar style groups while still maintaining their own sound. Golden.
Rock and Roll doused with chain mail of math and helm of indie experimental. Really enjoying these guys lately. Vocals as well are a bit different yet mesh surprisingly well. warning as well your going to have a bit of awesome drumming occurring, watch your faces.
Lovely and disjointed math-prog with a surprisingly decent sense of melody. Interested in Rhythmic changes? yea ugh this is whats up. Never in danger however to come apart at the seems just really impressive songwriting. Their bandcamp states "No feckin tappin or slappin" fair enough im in.
German born Progressive monster right here. The Season Standard issue forth heavy jazz, funk and electronic elements. Rhythms bring it in a math rock sort of bent but that shouldn't be of concern. Reason being that this is some excellently thoughtful musics that while technical retains its sense of fun.
production? clutch brah.
Trey Gunn also shows up on a track to play touch guitar. unfamiliar? he's just from some up and coming group called King Crimson.
3 piece out of Austin, TX, I think they are friends with Boyfrndz. Sounds like Hella, Zach Hill, bygones, you get the idea. Vocals are just kinda there, drums are EVERYWHERE. There's 2 EPs on their bandcamp, this one has a bit better production value.
Strange band name, stranger album art but some fine heavy-prog-math out of Sacramento going on here, in the vein of You Slut! and the like. Short but sweet EP is free off their bandcamp, new album in the works.
Some time ago when I was doing my first DJ gig at WNHU, my college's radio station, I was sifting through the station's massive library and came across a band called Don Caballero and it blew my mind. Since then I've been fascinated by math rock and all it's variations. Numerous forums and blogs just like this one helped fuel that fascination and built a pretty substantial library of music for myself. Didn't want to post any repeats (you guys have covered a lot of ground over the years!) but was surprised these guys haven't been mentioned on swords.
Planets are a drum and bass duo from Napa, CA who I once heard described as "maze-rock" because they were "too crazy for math rock". Tag squabbling aside this is hyperactive music that takes more than a few listens to digest but the impressive level of technique is apparent right away. Paul Slack, previously of SWIMS, sounds like he's playing two basses at once through impressive use of octave pedals but I saw them live and they pull it off and then some (not to mention they wear white cotton body suits and play crazy video clips through a projector pointed at themselves.) Certainly not for everyone but mind blowing in its composition and execution, I hear something new each listen.
Their bandcamp has their latest ep, Turbo Jamz and a few off singles for free which I've grouped together below but I recommend starting with their s/t debut. Haven't heard much from them lately but enough writing, go listen.
: Tangled Thoughts of Leaving have been a constant source of extremely unique Experimental Math/Jazz Rock. They are also singular in the fact that they feature out front the not so often used piano for Math influenced tunes. With their 2011 release "Deaden the Fields" the broken and technical style that they hold as their own has been sharpened to a razor point on this release. The rough edges of odd breaks and occasional technicality without purpose has been sanded down into an amazingly epic release. As such when the fat gets trimmed off the bone you usually run the risk of taking some meat with it too. "Deaden the Fields" loses any such semblance of grind that the band initially started with which is a shame. Don't let that deter you from the old snatch and grab. You wont find this to be a double jump into new territory for these Australian gentlemen but bet on the fact that this really is as good as it gets for this particular style. Enjoy.
I was just surfing through some of the older posts on this site to get to some more downloading, and while doing so I was reminded of Refused for some reason; I was listening to A Troop of Echoes when i decided to look up the universally revered album that lead to the dismantling of the band behind it.
I remember seeing the video for New Noise back in highschool on some MTV afterschool and loving it, but never picking up the album; i would forget about them, and until just now I haven't heard anything else from their definitive masterpiece. Just from the first few tracks, i can tell how much they must have influenced bands like Mars Volta, Dredg, Bloc Party.. the list could go on. The range of sounds on this is truly special; in 1998, they were mixing a lot of sounds together that at the time was very new; great production for a punk-rock band, first and foremost, but then how they also added sampling in both spoken vocal snippits, but also sections of cool electronica; singing, screaming, winding song structures, and just limitless creativity for a 4 piece hardcore band. Here is New Noise:
It builds up some sweet heavy tension, before letting go to a cool electronic interlude before the vocals enter; The track is the centerpiece of the album, and after hearing the first 4 tracks that lead up to it, i can see how it is a song they decided to put dead center because it really solidifies the themes and sounds they spend the first 20 minutes of the album building, and put it to use for a very cool 5 minute single. I wont say anything more as I am just now starting to dig into the rest of The Shape of Punk to Come, but i am very glad i have rediscovered these guys. Dig it, fools!
Austin's very own electronic duo Zorch are an exciting new prospect on the scene. Most live electronic music will find you wiping tears of boredom from your eyes in my opinion. How many times have you been to a show and watched someone click a mouse on their laptop? Well breath the air of honest to god live drums and keyboards. Sure they also use a laptop as well but its minimal at best. Sound wise these guys clearly enjoy some mathy noise much more experimental fair. Sorry no club bangers here.
90's indie rock that tends to get lumped into the slowcore camp with arguably the kings of the genre Bedhead due to a wonderful split between the two. Athens Georgia's own Macha however hold an exciting "one up" over bands of the time using a lot of Gamelan instruments to blanket their searing indie rock. Thats right a junk load of drums, nipple gongs, bamboo flutes and my personal favorite the dulcimer, give Macha a stand out style that I can not say I've ever heard done before. While later albums would find Macha shifting the balance of their music (even incorporating dance elements) it still works. See it Another Way I believe to be an excellent start to an often over looked band.
This is what happens when Math Rock tells itself to go "fuck off". It's a highly coordinated ramshackle attack on the cohesion of what you would come to expect from gentlemen such as this.The music does tend to break the hazy clouds and pound out some honest to god crystal clear licks. However this is not the point at all. Promise there isn't really anything like it out there.
Comprised of members from a handful of current and past math rock groups (maps and atlases, zzzz's, storm and stress, sweep the leg johnny) Hey! tonal marks a less organic take on the genre, employing carefully programmed drums and samples. It is a bit free-jazzy using horns and structure wise as well. Really strong for members whose groups sound nothing like this.
Like the long lost child of Jardin de la Croix. This Nova Scotia group dial down the metal elements of said group and focus on a much more experimental prog focused affair. At times incredibly busy and complex and other times fairly laid back but no less interesting. There's just not enough quality math prog out their and fewer even yet that can incorporate the metal element so seemlessly. Also would like to add for the record....mentioning Jardin in the first sentence of my little entry is a high honor as I feel they really exemplify the math metal genre to its fullest so highest praise sugar lips. This may not be as fun as blowing on a flaming lollipop but I can guarantee it tastes a whole lot better.
