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SIKTH

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal • United Kingdom


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Sikth biography
Founded in Watford, UK in 2000 - Hiatus between 2008-2014

Sikth was formed in 2000 and by March 2001 had a stable lineup in the form of Justin Hill and Mikee Goodman who are the two vocalists, Dan Weller and Graham Pinney (Pin) the guitarists, James Leach the bassist and Dan Foord the drummer and percussionist. In 2001 they got a breakthrough, having received an offer by BBC Radio 1 to do a live session, making them one of a handful of unsigned bands to do so. They established their own label to release their first EP "Let the Transmitting Begin" in 2002, which also featured the songs from the live session they recorded for BBC Radio 1. In May 2002 they signed a recording deal with Gut Records and released through them their second EP "How May I Help You?". This EP was accompanied by a video for the song "If You Weren't So Perfect" and an animated video for the title track. After touring in support of their material so far, they entered the studio to record and produce their debut album "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out, Wait for Something Wild" which was released in August 2003, in early 2004 in Japan and later on in Australia (in the latter two, they have garnered a strong following, in addition to the one at home). They supported the album with shows in the UK and Japan (supporting Anthrax and Killswitch Engage in a festival there). In December 2004, the band decided to leave Gut Records, only to sign, shortly after, a new deal with the American label Bielerbros Records. In 2005, they entered studio in Miami (where their label is based) to record and produce their second album "Death Of A Dead Day", released in 2006. Another tour followed this release and they performed in the USA as well. Another EP was released that year, called "Flogging The Horses". On May 2007, the two vocalists, Mikee Goodman and Justin Hill, announced that they will be leaving the band in July 2007 to pursue their own careers as musicians and producers.
Their music is not a common type of progressive metal; it's complex, technical, hardcore, and contains influences from different styles of metal and rock. The two vocalists also add to their uniqueness. The band's releases and video have received much acclaim and praises throughout their short career and their success is growing with each release.

Sources for the bio:
http://www.sikth.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sikth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikth

==Assaf Vestin (avestin)==

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SIKTH discography


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SIKTH top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.10 | 60 ratings
The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild
2003
3.99 | 65 ratings
Death of a Dead Day
2006
3.88 | 13 ratings
The Future in Whose Eyes?
2017

SIKTH Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SIKTH Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

SIKTH Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SIKTH Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

4.04 | 8 ratings
Opacities
2015

SIKTH Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Death of a Dead Day by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.99 | 65 ratings

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Death of a Dead Day
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars "Death of a Dead Day" is the 2nd full-length studio album by UK, Watford based progressive metal/metalcore act Sikth. The album was released through Bieler Bros. Records in June 2006. Itīs the successor to "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait For Something Wild" from 2003 and the sextet lineup who recorded the predecessor is intact here. Sikth were originally active from 2001 to 2008 and released two full-length studio albums in that period. They reunited in 2013.

Stylistically the material on "Death of a Dead Day" continue the technical/progressive metal of "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait For Something Wild" (2003). SikThīs brand of progressive metal features elements of mathcore, NU-metal, alternative metal, and hardcore, and a combination of the sound of artists like The Dillinger Escape Plan and System of a Down is a relatively valid description, although Sikth definitely have a sound of their own. While their songwriting is clever and effective, Iīm predominantly blow away by the high level musicianship found on "Death of a Dead Day". The complexity of the material is pretty high, but itīs the natural organic way that said material is performed and the way the many different vocal styles (clean, screaming, aggressive, schizophrenic lunatic babbling) compliment the often manic instrumental parts of the music, which make this a spectacular release. Youīre definitely in for at ride with this album...

Featuring a detailed, powerful, and very well sounding production "Death of a Dead Day" is also a treat on the ears in terms of every instrument and vocal parts sounding great in the mix. The fact that itīs a self-produced affair bears witness to how skilled SikTh are. They arenīt just clever composers and well playing musicians, but also competent producers. Upon conclusion "Death of a Dead Day" is a high quality sophomore album by SikTh and a 4 - 4.5 star (85%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

 The Future in Whose Eyes? by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2017
3.88 | 13 ratings

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The Future in Whose Eyes?
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by siLLy puPPy
Special Collaborator PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic

4 stars SIKTH took the progressive metal world by surprise when they debuted their unique and demanding debut release "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait For Something Wild" in 2003 which along with the avant-garde tendencies of Meshuggah changed the coarse of djent guitar styled extreme progressive metal in the early 21st century. This Watford, England based band emerged seemingly out of nowhere and showed the world a new way of melding the avant-garde with progressive rock and metalcore. Despite being cited as major contributors to the djent guitar sound and dizzying mathcore freneticism, SIKTH only released two albums in a four year span and then suddenly disappeared into the ethers of the underground only to let a whole slew of imitators (think of bands like Periphery) to fill the newly created vacuum. In 2015 the band dropped a little teaser of an EP called "Opacities" which showed that they were still in top form and ready to jump back into the mosh pit and fight it out with the newbies on the block. Finally in 2017 we see the long waited third release THE FUTURE IN WHOSE EYES? which emerges a full eleven years after the last full length album "Death Of A Dead Day."

One of the main reasons for the band's initial demise in 2007 was the fact that the duo vocal team of Mikee Goodman and Justin Hill had left the band to pursue other musical endeavors and since a great deal of SIKTH's signature sound is utterly dependent on this one-two vocal punch, the band called it quits lest they sound like any old metalcore band with progressive leanings out there. The band rekindled their connections when Goodman returned but Hill had apparently jumped ship for good, so in with the new blood and Joe Rosser makes his debut as the second vocalist. The album also has been released in two formats. There's the original release with 12 tracks and the Earbrook Edition that has two bonus discs, one of re-imagined tracks and another of the entire album in all instrumental form. Whaaaat?!!!! Now who wants to hear an instrumental album of SIKTH? The vocals are half the fun! I've forsaken this bonus pack and stuck with the originally intended program.

As the album begins with "Vivid," it sounds like SIKTH never went away as the combination of Goodman's socially conscious lyrically prose bursts out in schizophrenic screams with the combo effect of Dan Weller and Graham Pinney's duo guitar onslaught of blistering core based guitar riffing. The rhythm section of James Leach on bass and Dan Foord hammering out precision percussion is fully aflame as well. SIKTH is back and means business. "Century Of The Narcissist?" only continues to ramp up the frenzy and sounds very much like SIKTH's comfort zone as heard on previous albums only incorporates a nice mix of both screamed and clean vocals with a rather alternative metal type of riffing approach. "The Aura" displays a new style for a full album SIKTH album although was present on the EP "Opacities" as baritone poetry is read introducing yet another blistering metal assault to the senses. At this point it's clear that SIKTH has mellowed out a bit as they have incorporated a lot more slower passages that mix and mingle with the bombastic as [%*!#] trademark maniacal madness that they are known for.

"The Ship Has Sailed" is yet another short poetic prose with dark ambient musical accompaniment that ushers in yet another progressive metal / metalcore frantic mashup. By the time we get to "Cracks Of Light" it is apparent that the spoken poetic prose mixed with the clean progressive metal style is here to stay as the hardcore elements are deemphasized and only appear in certain proportions in the mix. While these developments were laid out on the EP "Opacities," it is now quite apparent that the band has been working on fusing these elements into their new style which takes the balls-to-the-wall aggressiveness all the time and allows the music to expand into a more diverse arena. Depending on your reaction, you could possibly deem this as an attribute of "selling out" or simply "maturing." Perhaps it's a bit of both considering three singles have been released from this one, however bands need to move on and find a new relevant way to express themselves and metalcore is not exactly the easiest of metal genres to expand one's tentacles into new arenas. SIKTH prove on THE FUTURE IN WHOSE EYES? that they can still stand ground with the best of the newer metal bands out there.

True that this one doesn't have the same whoah factor that the first two albums did and it took me a few more spins to appreciate but once it sinks in, the results are stunning in how they have mixed and melded hitherto unthinkable aspects into their musical mania. In addition to the newer elements already mentioned, there is a very mature approach to the production standards which is quite professionally and pleasantly executed. After a skeptical start with this album, i think it has grown on me to the point i'm actually glad that SIKTH have returned. With the more dynamic effects of pacing the aggressive elements that intermittently commingle with more ambient and more subdued alternative metal approaches, SIKTH have found yet another avenue of musical delivery which is very different than their earlier albums where it was 100% adrenaline firing at full speed with more subdued respites later on. Here they maintain a flow of different energy levels that ultimately works quite well. While this album does tend to lack some kind of major high that blows me away, i can't fault it in any way as well. It seems that it was only my unrealistic expectations that kept me from initially warming up to it. After accepting it for what it is, i'm quite enamored by the maturity of composition and musical performances.

 Opacities by SIKTH album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 2015
4.04 | 8 ratings

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Opacities
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by siLLy puPPy
Special Collaborator PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic

4 stars After a near decade absence after their 2006 album "Death Of A Dead Day," the English progressive metalcore outfit SIKTH dropped a little EP out as an appetizer to keep their fans salivating for yet another full album. Despite only having released two full-length albums, OPACITIES is actually the fourth EP following the twin EP output of 2002 and the 2006 release "Flogging The Horses." The band members are exactly the same as their previous lineup, so this is very much a genuine SIKTH release and once again the band delivers an outstanding cross-pollination of hard and heavy metalcore fused with their brand of extreme progressive metal that often reminds me of the type Enslaved weaved into their albums such as "RIITIIR." OPACITIES is a short but sweet EP with six tracks not quite reaching the half hour mark.

OPACITIES pretty much continues the well-known style that SIKTH unleashed on their full-length albums, that being highly caustic core type riffing mixed with progressive song structures. While on the full albums Mikee Goodman utilized his frenetic screaming vocal effect as his main sonic instrument of torture, on this one there is a lot more emphasis on clean vocal delivers. The opening tracks "Behind The Doors," "Philistine Philosophies" and "Under The Weeping Moon" are the most recognizable SIKTH tracks sounding very much like the noisiest and obnoxious tracks heard on the earlier albums, however the core elements are somewhat toned down and progressive metal riffing is just as and often more prevalent and sometimes it actually sounds more akin to heavy alternative metal styled riffs.

The biggest surprises are the spoken word "Tokyo Lights" which utilizes a poetic approach along with vocalized shadow and sound effects to create a very memorable and bizarre track. With no instruments to be heard. "Walking Shadows" returns with the full furry of progressive core riffing and metal intensity including some trademark frenetic vocals akin to the opening tracks but "Days Are Dreamed" completely changes things up with an etheric atmosphere that introduces a clean vocal track that is not metal at all but rather a progressive rock composition that will probably remind more of the newer Opeth albums than of earlier Sikth releases as the mood is thick and the symphonic touches dominate.

OPACITIES is a quirky little mix of old and new for SIKTH but still manages to deliver a satisfying shot of their unique hybridization of progressive rock, metal and the core elements that they belt out with all the technical precision one would expect. This band has maintained a very high standard and is fairly consistent from one release to another and in that regard OPACITIES will not disappoint especially if you can appreciate the diversity of styles as heard on albums such as "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait For Something Wild." This EP rekindles the past but also points to newer directions that the band could possibly carve out and expand on future releases, so it is indeed a satisfying whetting of the appetite for fans to anticipate.

 The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2003
4.10 | 60 ratings

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The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild" is the debut full-length studio album by UK, Watford based progressive metal act Sikth. The album was released through Gut Records in August 2003. Sikth was active from 2001 to 2008 and released two full-length studio albums in that period.

The music on the album is a highly energetic form of progressive metal with elements of all sorts of other music styles. Most notably mathcore, NU-metal, alternative metal and hardcore. Imagine how a combination of The Dillinger Escape Plan, System of a Down, Mr. Bungle, Devin Townsend, Protest the Hero and Shaolin Death Squad would sound like and you're half way there. At their most melodic (like on "Peep Show") I'd even pull out The Mars Volta as a reference.

Sikth features two vocalists. I'm not completely sure who sings what, but there are several different vocal styles featured in the music. It often sounds like a group of mad men shouting, screaming, fast talking, hysterical, whining and occasionally singing more clean melodic type vocals. There is a girlish quality to the clean vocal delivery that'll probably be a little off putting to some, but you can't deny that the vocals are delivered with fierce conviction and great skill. The point is the vocals are most likely an aquired taste. The instrumental part of the music is played with militant precision but features a delightfully chaotic sound. The technical level of playing is incredibly high. Both guitarists play very challenging riffs and themes, the bassist is thankfully placed high in the mix and he plays some really busy stuff throughout and the drummer is a tech metal monster. Contantly changing rhythms and time signatures and constantly shifts between energetic aggressive sections and more melodic atmospheric ones. This is at the same time very challenging and very catchy music.

"The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild" is a self-produced affair (mixed by Colin Richardson) and it's obvious the band are very skilled at this. The album features a very well sounding and powerful sound production, which provides the right space for all instruments and vocals in the soundscape. Another great asset is the album's flow or in other words how the tracklist is put together. It's an album full of surprises. Not only are the material really eclectic in nature, we're also treated to great changes in mood and atmosphere throughout the album.

The first part of the album (the first seven tracks) are wild, energetic and chaotic in nature, with the occasional more melodic section thrown in, but when the eigth track "Tupelo" kicks in, it's also the beginning of around 18 minutes of experimental, atmospheric music that is completely different from what came before it, yet somehow Sikth manage to make the transition in a seamless natural fashion. After being bombarded with technical playing and a very high energy level during the first part of the album, it's initially a bit of a culture shock to be met with the atmospheric sound of "Tupelo", "Can't We All Dream?" and the short piano interlude "Emerson, Part 2". It's perfect though and while the craziness continues on those tracks too with odd theatrical poetry recital and other types of obscure vocal artistery, that part of the album does work as a little breather, because when "How May I Help You?" kick in we're back in high energy chaotic territory again. That continues until the closing track "When Will the Forest Speak...?", which brings us back into odd poetry recital territory.

At 60:34 minutes (and that's excluding the Japanese bonus tracks), "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild" is a long album, but because of the eclectic nature of the music and the great flow of the album, it's not a minute too long. This is a progressive metal album in the most true sense of the word and when that amounts to a greatly adventurous, well played and well produced end product, as the case is here, a 4.5 star (90%) rating is deserved.

 Death of a Dead Day by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.99 | 65 ratings

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Death of a Dead Day
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Metalcore-based Djentamaniacs Sikth offer a convincing sophomore album with Death of a Dead Day. Sadly, it's my understanding that they disbanded after this, which is a shame because on the strength of this they could have been the UK's answer to Animals As Leaders had they stuck it out. The basic features of metalcore are still present, so if you're allergic to breakdowns and angsty screaming you may find this one a hard sell (and I have to say I'd enjoy it more if they toned that side of their sound down a bit), but most fans of experimental and progressive metal with any sympathy for the Djent sound will find that Sikth's impressive technical mastery at least worth a listen, whether or not they're won over by them in the long run.
 The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2003
4.10 | 60 ratings

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The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by Conor Fynes
Prog Reviewer

4 stars 'The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild' - Sikth (7/10)

There is alot to be said about Sikth, a band from the UK that is now defunct. Although they fit into a particular sound of music that I have rarely been attracted to, I've been lately infatuated with their incredibly chaotic sound and adventurous musicianship. Although their second album would perfect their work, the verbosely titled debut brings a distinctive melange of styles to the table. 'The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild' is quite a mouthful, and way do well to describe the feeling the music gets across. Sporting some of the best musicianship modern progressive metal has seen in the new millennium, Sikth balance off their jackhammer instrumentation with incredibly quirky left-of-centre compsoitions, and creates an aggressive piece of math metal that often flirts with the avant- garde.

I will say first that Sikth's music is not for everyone. In fact, most people will find the incredibly dense and diverse style that they play to be virtually impenetrable.Sikth's first fit into a label will likely be 'mathcore', sharing the same out of control style and screamed vocals that The Dillinger Escape Plan and Protest The Hero use. This is a style that I have historically found inconsistent at best, and distasteful at worst, but I've been proven here that there is gold in every mound. Of the two albums that Sikth put out when they were still together, this is the more mathcore-based, and less melodic of the two pieces. However, the sense of sporadic shifts and diversity is here in full. 'The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild' introduces the band's style in all its glory. There is intensely technical musicianship that rivals many of prog metal's most inventive acts. The most challenging aspect of this band however, are their vocals. With two vocalists, it's granted that there will be some more diversity to the voices here than is usual for band, but the vocal element goes all across the board. From nutty shrieks and high-pitched screams to clean singing, growls and avant-garde spoken word poetry, it's as if Sikth hired the local asylum for the criminally insane's house choir, told them to patch together some lyrics, and deliver them in whatever way they see fit. It's strange, and the pieces do not always fit together, but it keeps things wildly interesting.

'The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild' is a very ambitious effort, but some ideas are taken far beyond where they should have stopped. 'Tupelo' and 'Can't We All Dream?' are a perfect example of this, taking an altogether sixteen minute respite from the chaos to build up a couple of odd vocal ideas. Although 'Tupelo' succeeds in conveying an eerie tribal feeling, the following track ends up becoming irritating long before the end. Hearing the track title shouted countless times after the music ends would have been a disappointing end to the album, but to make it worse, it's lodged in the middle of it. Through this, 'The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild' has a fairly weak sense of flow to it, and even feels like it should have ended much earlier than it does. 'Death Of A Dead Day' is superior in virtually every way, but as debuts go, SIkth gives a remarkable experience here. It's a shame that we will only ever hear two albums from them, because there is not a band that has a sound just like theirs.

 Death of a Dead Day by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.99 | 65 ratings

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Death of a Dead Day
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by Conor Fynes
Prog Reviewer

5 stars 'Death Of A Dead Day' - Sikth (9/10)

Let's make it clear; "mathcore" is most definitely not my thing. Sure, a band can be talented as all hell, but if it comes off sounding needlessly chaotic and adolescent, I tune out pretty quickly. Of course, there are bands that manage to justify the sense of chaos with exciting ideas and intelligent songwriting. Sikth are a progressive metal band that shares the same scene as acts like Protest The Hero, and even Between The Buried And Me. What sets them apart however, is their devotion to pushing the envelope as much as they can. Bordering on avant-garde absurdity, Sikth's second and final album 'Death Of A Dead Day' may be a slight move towards consolidating their sound, but it is as mad and sporadic as just about anything you will find in metal today.

When I first heard of Sikth a year or two back, I did not think much of them. I thought them to be part of the scene that sought to encroach hardcore upon progressive metal, and regardless of their playing abilities, that sound has never been for me. I'm glad I decided to check these guys out again though; while aspects of 'Death Of A Dead Day' don't align perfectly with my tastes, I cannot help but be impressed by what they are doing here. In terms of comparisons, Sikth are somewhat similar to Protest The Hero, although Sikth are quite a bit more challenging and 'out there'. System Of A Down also comes to mind. The vocals here are chaotic and diverse, much like avant-metal champions UneXpect. In truth, the sound of this band goes everywhere, and in itself, that creates a firm impression. Although none of these songs are ones that will be getting stuck in a casual listener's head anytime soon, I don't hear many modern progressive metal bands who are able to keep their music consistently exciting and even downright fun to listen to.

Instrumentally, this band is wild. The compositions they write are highly demanding, and the band pulls it off remarkably. The vocals, while conveying some of the adolescent screams that turned me off from the band to begin with, are about as technical as the instruments, fitting odd lyrics around complex time signatures. Sikth will not appeal to a large demographic of people, even among metalheads. Even after several listens, it's difficult to find a rosetta stone to 'crack' this album, although that constant sense of being 'out there' is part of the appeal. Even when concentrating heavily on the music, 'Death Of A Dead Day' comes across as being extremely chaotic and quirky, but it's pulled off in such a way that that it becomes incredibly fun to listen to, in the same sense of a roller coaster. Sikth don't take themselves too seriously, but their music is executed with precision and leaves me feeling wowed.

 Death of a Dead Day by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.99 | 65 ratings

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Death of a Dead Day
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by arcane-beautiful

5 stars After a mezermising debut, how do you match it. By making it more tolerable.

This album is a lot more meldoic than their debut and is more easy listening (it still is incredbily crazy though).

This album is also alot more structured and alot more catchier as well.

I do favour this album, very slightly to their debut because it reminds me more of what Protest The Hero are doing now.

I'm also sad to say that after this album, they sadly broke up, which is a complete shame because they were one of the best bands from the 00's.

1. Bland Street Bloom - What a 7 string groove. After listening to this album, I did detune my guitar down to A# and learnt how to play the intro. What an amazing song, great chours, amazing over dubs with vocals and some amazing instrumental work, what more can you want.

2. Flogging The Horse - A crazy song about animal sex. How crazy can you get. Great song with an amazing ending. The video for this song is also quite cool, because I never saw what these guys look like live.

3. Way Beyond The Fond Old River - Amazing chorus and an amazing pre chorus. Just overall a fantastic song.

4. Summer Rain - The craziest song on the album. The middle section would put Meshuggah to shame, wittering around hitting the lowest note they possibly can. Polyrthyms at their best in this song.

5. In This Light - It's almost like a ballad, but it's very eerie. Great song, with a great chorus.

6. Sanguine Seas Of Bigotry - One of the best songs on the album in my opinion. Mikee & Justin show some spectaculaire vocals. Amazing chorus.

7. Mermaid Slur - More poetry. In my opinion it doesent match up to When Will The Forest Speak...? Mainly because it's length isn't as long.

8. When The Moments Gone? -Great chorus. Very crazy but just enough to tolerate.

9. Part Of The Friction - Fantastic lyrics. Some great vocals and instrumental work.

10. Where Do We Fall? - The most melodic song on the album. Very Funeral For A Friend. Great chorus and some fantasitc melodies.

11. Another Sinking Ship - Amazing song with some amazing instrumental work.

12. As The Earth Spins Round - A great way to end the album. Amazing fade out section at the end.

CONCLUSION: Buy both of their albums. Fantastic pieces of music.

SiKtH (RIP)

 The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2003
4.10 | 60 ratings

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The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by arcane-beautiful

5 stars This is up among the list of albums that changed my life forever.

Picture this, a young 10 year old child, listening to quite average rock and alternative bands (mainly American, the Trout Mask Replica of nationallity concerning music). As I watch MTV2 (now called MTV Rock I think) at about 11 o'clock at night, a vibrant cartoon music video comes on, being only 10, it intrigued me a wee bit. The music that accompanied the video was some of the weirdest and most influential noises I have ever heard). The song was called How May I Help You?. I was intrigued.

Then a few months later, I hear another song and video from the band, one for the song Scent Of The Obscene. The video wasn't as attractive, but the song was so amazing and monumental, they had made a nice place for them in my heart.

I didnt buy the album until a while later, but yes, this album is a monument among metal.

Sikth were able to take math metal, which was quite a disjuncted genre, and form with it post metal, post hardcore, avant garde metal and progressive metal, making one of the most interesting and most successful fusions in what I see as music history.

The instrumental work is also incredibly smart and very frantic.

1. Scent Of The Obscene - When that slap bass line comes in, prepare for an amazine ride. Mixing amazing frantic sections with the almost ambient breakdown and topping off with a soaring chorus, this has to be one of the greatest songs ever made. The lyrics are amazing as well.

2. Pussyfoot - The intro of this song always makes me laugh. Great lyrics and the vocals are amazing. Incredbily frantic.

3. Hold My Finger - The lyrics of this song always makes me laugh. Thought they couldn't get anymore frantic, you were wrong.

4. Skies Of Millenium Night - Great lyrics and an hode to Bill Hicks. Very nice. The instrumental work in this song is amazing and the instrumental section just prooves how much of an amazing band these guys were.

5. Emerson, Pt. 1 - A beautifull piano instrumental. This is very sad and at times is a wee bit eerie.

6. Peepshow - One of the best songs on the album. Amazing lyrics, amazing voals from Justin and an beautifull soaring chorus. The vocal harmonies also are flawless. The video for this song is quite weird, but amazing.

7. Wait For Something Wild - Anoter incredibly frantic song with amazing voals. Crazy and werid as always. The ending is quite funny, showing Mikee's amazing voice work.

8. Tupelo - A Nick Cave cover. Yes, this isnt out of place. I haven't heard Nicks version, but if it's as good as this, then I will be happy. Mikee's vocals really are specatcular, with some amazing vocal techniques that he could only pull off. I love the eerie atmopshere that surrounds the song.

9. Can't We All Dream - Very noisy but quite beautifull in a morose sense.Some amazing vocals and I love the discourse between drums and bass.

10. Emerson, Pt. 2 - The continuation of this very beautiful piano interlude.

11. How May I Help You? - This is just...words can't describe it. If you haven't heard this song, then you badly need to. Very comical and incredibly enjoyable. Again, Mikee shows off some amazing vocal styles and voices. The story of the song is also very funny. The video can also be used as added stimulus.

12. (If You Weren't So) Perfect - Great song with a great chorus. Some amazing voals and lyrics.

13. Such The Fool - One crazy song. It's just so frantic.

14. When Will The Forest Speek...? - An amazing spoken word poem. Again, amazing voices from Mikee. I also can quote this word for word.

CONCLUSION: This changed my life, and hopefully it will change yours.

 Death of a Dead Day by SIKTH album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.99 | 65 ratings

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Death of a Dead Day
Sikth Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by Lezaza

4 stars For some reason the masses on progarchives still haven't gotten their eyes and ears on this fantastic band. A disbanded band now, sadly.

Yet this does not by any means lessen the importance these records have had, and will have on guitar playing and progressive metal for future generations. Just listening around on myspace on bands of the similar genre you keep stumbling on that blackmachine sound and SikTh at the top of influences. SikTh's impact on modern music is huge!

Now, the album. DoaDD follows the genius The Trees Are Dead and Dried Out, Wait for Something Wild, an album which completely changed the way I listen to music. DoaDD is not as good as it predecessor, it is actually a far way from it. Where the Tree's-album shone most was the balance in songs, the arrangements of kick and breaks were brilliant, keeping you interested all through out the album. With DoaDD SikTh are taking their music to a new level in terms of instrumentalism but are losing their footing with what made the previous album the best of its genre; the entirety.

DoaDD starts off with what I consider the four greatest songs ever written in the genre, taking such a huge leap in the progressiveness of their music that it left me breathless on the first listen. The time signatures of Way Beyond the Fond River are just mind numbingly complex. But after those songs it begins to gait, slowly turning away from the their usual frantic, high paced songs into more mellow and "standard" ones.

By the end of DoaDD I'm no longer as in love with SikTh as I was hearing Tree's for the first time, and perhaps it was a good thing they disbanded in the end.

Conclusively, what can be said about this album is that it is the pinnacle of SikTh's career in terms of production, arrangement and technicality. It has some of the most earth shattering songs you'll find in the genre and the two single most interesting vocalists around. It's a fantastic record that I'd recommend to anyone interested in technical music of any form.

4/5

Thanks to avestin for the artist addition. and to NotAProghead for the last updates

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