Distant Thunder

Distant Thunder, not to be confused with the post-Helstar James Rivera project of the same name, are yet another single-demo USPM group, though as USPM goes, they're one of the stranger acts out there. Very much on the progressive side of things, opening track "Phantom Carousel" throws the listener for a loop (pun very much intended), with a nightmarish, tortuous, at times almost mournful atmosphere that doesn't really sound like much else I've heard, but comes closer to the first Cauldron Born album (think the denser, more ominous numbers like "Born of the Cauldron" or "Synchronicity at Midnight"). Thought that's the oddest track on display here, the rest is certainly far from being by-the-numbers, as the vocalist takes a gruff, harsher tone on "Riddles in the Dark" evocative of another demo-only band, Salem's Lot, and interestingly taking inspiration (at least in the title) from Tolkien's The Hobbit rather than the much more lyrically popular Lord of the Rings.

The title track starts off with the doomy atmosphere of "Phantom Carousel," but transitions into a slightly more traditional verse reminiscent of the third Helstar album, which is more than likely the group's namesake, featuring some pretty blistering soloing before cutting off fairly abruptly, segueing very jarringly into the ominous acoustic intro to the demo's final track, "Dream Trap." Though the enchanting mystical tone set rivals something like the mighty Enchanter, the rest of the track is more of an off-kilter gallop a la Helstar once again before slowing down into a bridge that wouldn't sound too out of place on a Rush album, then returning to Helstar-isms.

All in all, this is one of the strangest, densest, and most jarring USPM releases out there, with the latter quality sometimes being to the band's disadvantage, as though they cut and paste disparate sections together, but for the most part remains interesting enough to hold the listener's attention. If nothing else, the release sounds fairly unique, with the doomier moments sounding like nothing else I've heard aside from hints of Cauldron Born, and the overall combination of tones bringing to mind only perhaps Chozzen Phate, with its combination of progressive, doom, and speed/thrash metal making for quite the chaotic listen. If any of this intrigues you, you ought to give this band a listen - it's not for the casual listener, but those who enjoy the stranger, more adventurous side of USPM are sure to find something to enjoy here.