Rhizomes of Insanity

I'm always down for some weird stuff. Progressive death metal is a fun itch to scratch when the need comes. I checked out Fractal Universe after hearing some positive buzz about their debut album. Not my cup of tea. I was not impressed by "Rhizomes of Insanity" beyond the progressive and technical madness infesting its every corner. The novelty wore off quickly, and the songs lack the muscle to magnetize with their inherent madness. Fractal Universe is jazzy and snazzy and all that fun stuff, but I just don't jive with this.

Fractal Universe is at least compelling on the face of it. I guess they are frequently lumped together with Gorod, but I notice traces of other similar bands. A lot of the album jerks around in off-kilter mid-tempo sections twisting around in complex rhythms. Blast beats and rapid riffing have footholds, although the record sticks to the gradual side of things. Fractal Universe has a keen sense of melody. Choruses and melodically minded sections are common motifs despite the turbulence happening elsewhere. None of it really sticks other than thinking, "Huh, that's cool," which has a short shelf life. I can think of several bands that are a lot less 'busy' in their approach that are infinitely more enthralling. I notice a cool riff or something that entices, but then it's forever lost in the void once it passes.

"Rhizomes of Insanity," of course, features progressive traits, some might say experimental. They implement a vocoder, a saxophone solo somewhere, some other musical oddities. These ideas, absorbing as they are, begin to overlap and come off as stale by the time the record ends. The vocoder use isn't shabby, but the whispered/soft vocals are lame. I know the band is branching out and being progressive and all that stuff, but they sound forced. Other than that, Fractal Universe sails smoothly. The album does not choke on its own foundation; it's just by-the-numbers and caged by its scientific approach. Not a lot happens to make the collective effort enamoring.

None of this is extraordinary beyond the technical thrill. The album is just too clinical for its own good. The technical effect fizzles out after a few songs, and the abstract influences and instruments that trickle in wear off quickly too. Then, the mania notwithstanding, the album ends with its components having regressed to the mean. Fractal Universe is decent, and perhaps those drawn more to this kind of thing will appreciate "Rhizomes of Insanity" for its progressive death metal blueprint. I did not find this to be captivating despite its flash and flare, however. Acceptable stuff for a baseline standard; not so much when it comes to depth.

This review was written for: www.Thrashpit.com