The unique niche of what we sometimes call “dark progressive” has been filled by plenty great bands in the last few years. Unsurprisingly, some of the biggest names like Karnivool or Caligula’s Horse hail from Australia, where this style had one of its many births. Their sound can be characterized by progressive song structure coupled with a focus on darker themes and overall tone, unlike that which often characterizes progressive metal. We are now pleased to introduce you to another Australian addition to this unique sound type, in the form of Star Ark‘s God Complex Avatar. Head on over the jump for your first taste.
So, the influences here are clear: heavy, metalcore riffs dominate the forefront but are arranged in an original and non-standard ways. The drums on this track, and two others on this album, are recorded by the great Daniel Cardoso from Anathema, are even more progressive and add a joy and verve to the track which is hard to resist. The rest of the album has plenty more Anathema-influenced sounds, especially on the powerful ‘Mars Attacks’ and closer ‘Evacuate’. This part of the album, in other songs as well, adds a much needed sense of drama and urgency to the whole thing and is reminiscent of the later Anathema albums, like Weather Systems.
While this EP is short, it’s really managed to clear a space for itself on my listening rotation. Nothing here is extremely innovative, but it’s all executed brilliantly and sounds sincere and clear. Don’t forget to head on over to bandcamp to take a listen and download it for free. Don’t forget to spread the word!
-EK