THE MACHINATIONS OF DEMENTIA

4.5 stars. Thankyou UMUR for the recommendation ! This is Ron Jarzombek's project and the guy is simply a genius when it comes to playing the guitar. So inventive as many know from his days with WATCHTOWER and SPASTIC INK. Well in my opinion he's topped everything he's ever done with this album. He has Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE) on bass. Ron composed all the tracks with Alex helping out on seven of them. On drums we have BEHOLD...THE ARCTOPUS' Charlie Zeleny. It was funny talking to this young guy at the "Sony Store" the other day. We get talking about music and he tells me he plays guitar and his favourite band is MESHUGGAH. Well we knew a lot of the same bands and I asked him if he knew BLOTTED SCIENCE and he laughs and says "Yeah that's Charlie's band". He had already told me he was a fan of BEHOLD...THE ARCTOPUS. Anyway this is an all instrumental album with the theme being the inner workings of the physical mind. It's very cool to read in the liner notes a detailed "Observation" and "Clinical Synopsis" for each song title.This is incredibly technical and heavy Metal / Fusion, but the fact it's melodic makes this darn near perfect for my tastes.

"Synaptic Plasticity" opens with outbursts of power that come and go as the guitar plays underneath.Then it all kicks in with an awesome display. This sounds so good cranked up. It's heavy duty 2 minutes in. Check out the bass before 2 1/2 minutes and later at 3 minutes ! Then check out Ron before 4 minutes just shredding ! Dude ! "Laser Lobotomy" has this killer guitar intro as drums and bass join in. It gets heavier. It settles after 2 minutes but it doesn't last long. Ripping guitar after 3 minutes and later. Unreal. "Brain Fingerprinting" opens with this guitar line as outbursts of power come and go until it stays. Check out the drum work. It settles some and I really like the way this song changes and evolves. Amazing guitar late. It blends into "Oscillation Cycles" as it turns into an all out assault. It's doom-like late. "Activation Synthesis Theory" is the longest tune at over 8 minutes.The guitar makes some noise then we get what sounds like a heart beat. It starts to beat faster then crunch, crunch and wreckage. So cool ! Heaviness follows. A furious attack before 4 1/2 minutes followed a minute later by a crushing soundscape that causes maximum damage.The guitar cries out in anguish 6 1/2 minutes in. "R.E.M." features outbursts of rage as the music box-like sound plays. The rage wins. "Night Terror" opens with ominous guitar then it must be open season because the metal starts to fly.

"Bleeding In The Brain" is dramatic and desperate. Amazing tune. They're on fire before 4 minutes. Let them burn ! Not worthy ! "Vegetation" features some tasteful guitar (shocking I know) in this mellow tune. "Narcolepsy" kicks in heavily rather quickly. Check it out a minute in. It settles again as contrasts continue. It's like thunder and lightning as this violent storm wreaks destruction. A calm follows but not for long. "E.E.G. Tracings" opens with some devestating guitar, heaviness follows. We're all going to die ! These guys are insane ! "Sleep Deprivation" is spacey and laid back. "The Insomniac" is heavy with guitar then it turns spacey as contrasts continue. Huge bass after 2 minutes. Killer sound late as drums pound relentlessly. "Amnesia" has some nice deep bass lines to open as guitar and heaviness joins in and trash the place. "Adenesine Breakdown" is laid back with lots of bass. It's building. Here we go ! "Adenosine Buildup" is like listening to a stampede. It settles some. Love the guitar. It calms right down to end it.

A masterpiece if i've ever heard one.This sounds all too perfect. By the way Ron Jarzombek produced it as well.