The Faceless -> extreme tech/insane/prog/death met

 

nobody.  and I mean NOBODY will ever top the kings from Canada, Gorguts and Martyr.  OH and Cynic (even modern day Cynic) would conclude a trio in my opinion of the best.  all this other stuff is just blast-fest noodling with no direction or dynamics or feeling.  I need dynamics.  You can sweep pick until the cows come home, but if the solos and riffs are not novel and unique (in a word- dissonant or jazzy for my tastes- not typical chord progressions), they are just putting me to sleep.  I have the new Brain Drill and it is a whirlwind of just w**k with nothing memorable.  I love technical metal when it is done right, but most of these new bands don't know what is up.  another example:  Son Of Aurelius, their new album is just consecutive sweep arpeggios strung together.  I get it, you can play fast.... but can you combine that with feeling and dynamics?  Their are too many homogenous and generic tech metal bands out there.  Nothing sticks out as really memorable for me these days.  The Faceless are okay I suppose, but they obviously are utilizing the same wheel that godfathers like Cynic (vocoder vocals?  hello- Cynic?!)and Atheist already fabricated.  I guess I am more picky because 1) I have been listening to tech metal for about 15 years, and 2) I am a musician.  Just as a historical reference, do yourself a favor and listen to Gorguts' "obscura", I think you may find it still is fresh today.  (what a feat, considering a lot of that material was written in the mid to late nineties)The same can be said from their album "from wisdom to hate" or even their early death metal material is unique for that period.  Also, all the Martyr albums are unbeatable.  Canada has a fairly lively scene for this sort of music.  Ion Dissonance's first album is great too..... I could never fully get into Cryptopsy though.  Quo Vadis is decent.  ah, hell, not trying to rain on your parade man, but these are just my opinions on the current state of Technical metal.  Also, check out Watchtower, Sieges Even (early material), and Spastic Ink, or even Blotted Science (Machinations Of Dementia).  Drottnar is another unique technical black metal band.  Extol wrote some killer stuff in this vein.  Check out their "Synergy" album...

 

also, check out this thread:

 

and here is my contribution:

(fourth post down)

 

also, if you go further in that thread, you can learn more and more.....