Exist!

Running over 32 minutes in length, this track might be expected to be a really meandering snake of a thing with various parts maybe at odds with each other in pace, rhythm, ambience or some other element ... as it turns out though, "Exist!" is a lot more consistent than what I thought it might be: much of it is straightforward heavy metal that might well appeal to Metallica fans (more specifically, those Metallica fans who latched onto the band in the 1980's and early 1990's and who've been dissatisfied with the San Francisco foursome's direction since). "Exist!" goes at a steady pace for the first 13 minutes, it's not especially fast but it's fast enough to be called "busy". Drumming is at least good and consistent without being flashy or show-off. Plenty of lead guitar solo moments of the "flying fingers up and down the fretboard" sort abound and some of these can be really exhilarating. The singing can be hoarse, raw and tight in a way that reminds me a bit of Phil Anselmo when he was with Pantera, at least during their "Vulgar Display of Power" period.

Just after the 13th minute, we're treated to an ambient passage where the music waits its time buzzing in the background and an acoustic guitar melody, moody and slightly menacing, dominates briefly. The buzzing drone continues to hold this part of the track together more or less with industrial effects in the background. After this we return to the metal with squealing lead guitar licks, chanting and a driving rhythm. The music works its way through passages where new riffs may be introduced or melodies or riffs already encountered may be repeated so there is a kind of verse-chorus structure present here even if in a loose way. Sure enough around the 25th minute we have a chorus of "Exist!" repeated a few times and verse structures are repeated as well (though the actual words sung may vary) from this point on. Very little improvisation on guitar or on any other instrument happens in the last seven minutes.

This is a competent piece of music without being outstanding in any way and even the message of "Exist!" turns out to be not that remarkable: basically life is to be lived to the full partly by breaking out of old patterns and going against the herd among other things as we're all going to die eventually, that's something we've all heard many times in one way or another from advertisers and self-help books and gurus. The music can be very workman-like in the last seven minutes, concentrating on repetition of riffs that eventually get us to the quiet wraith-mist end. This section is one where some listeners will probably wish an Yngwie Malmsteen would appear to keep the attention level from flagging with flashy finger-work on the fretboard even if for a minute or so. In a way the music here doesn't do its message much justice: it should have more fire and drama with more atmosphere and some twists and surprises in the music and maybe the message itself. All very well to say life must be lived to the full but many people find this impossible due to things beyond their control ... poverty and violence in their homes and communities, being discriminated against or being sold a con or scammed or duped by perhaps the very people plugging that message about living life to the full and making manifest your destiny.

Thinking about what I said earlier, I now wish this 32-minute track had been more meandering and less consistent in ideas, music and structure. There is technical skill on display, yes, but for such a long piece of music Thesyre need more than just ability and a theme to make it succeed.