SIMULACRA

Australian band OPUS OF A MACHINE was formed around 2013 sometime, and released their first ever single towards the end of that year. One year later they launched their debut album "Simulacra", which was self-released by the band.

The chosen style of Opus of a Machine is progressive metal. Once upon a time a style description that gave rise to some rather instant associations towards bands like Queensryche, Fates Warning or Dream Theater, but following 20 or so years of development progressive metal has become a rather more expansive style that needs some further clarification. In this case we're dealing with a band that explore this type of music from an alternative/indie oriented point of view, creating a contemporary form of it that is very much inside the zeitgeist.

The compositions tends to operate with a certain set of contrasting features, the greater majority of them touched upon within each of the compositions. The most striking recurring element are elegant, smooth passages where gliding instrument textures, primarily by the guitar but occasionally also with keyboards chiming in, is the most prominent feature. Alternatively the more delicate passages of the compositions will be explored through careful, plucked guitar details as the key feature, with appropriately dampened drum patterns and bass guitar in support. This second facet more prominently used for verse parts and vocal passages in general, while the first one is somewhat more dominant in instrumental and intermediate phases of the composition.

Offsetting these more careful movements are harder hitting constructions, which obviously is the reason for the progressive metal description given this band. We are treated to a fair few instances of rich, majestic guitar riffs creating a powerful and more traditional metal sound on occasion, and the band will opt to go for bouncy, impact oriented pounding riffs with something more of a djent attitude to them as well on occasion. Otherwise staccato subtly dramatic riffs and intense, repetitive light toned riff barrages is the order of the day, executed in a manner that brings indie and alternative rock to mind just as much as the more careful, delicate dimensions of the band. The clear, melodic lead vocals also comes with something of an indie or alternative vibe to them, and while occasionally not being quite on par in terms of quality, with some loss of tome control noted on a select few occasions, this as well as other aspects does make this a highly appealing album in sum. The arguable slight touch of post-rock due to textured instrument details and the melodic, controlled lead vocals perhaps the most expansive details to the band's general sound in that specific context.

The smooth inclusion of indie and alternative rock details to the mainly melodic progressive metal core of Opus of a Machine is a compelling mix, with feistier and impact oriented effects and gentler, atmospheric laden passages offsetting each other quite nicely to add depth and contrast to this album experience. A generally appealing progressive metal album that should have a fairly broad reach, also beyond the typical progressive metal interested audience.