]]][[[ [AKA: A NEW HEAVENLY BODY]

Being known for releasing very rhythmically challenging and technical metal, Ben Sharp continues to develop his sound and pursue a different musical goal. The quirky, unpronouncable titles aside, ']]][[[' shows Cloudkicker wandering into a much denser soundscape, focusing more of the atmospheric side of things than the traditional metal madness he introduced to the world with the debut release. While only being fifteen minutes long, this 'Brackets' album is a pretty challenging serving to swallow after a single listen. Despite being the least melodically enhanced or enjoyable so far of Cloudkicker's works, there is still much that will impress here.

With the first track '#,' the problem with ']]][[[' first arises. While post-rock certainly isn't meant to be the most eventful music in the world, this seems to get a bit too repetitive for it's own good. While it can be pretty calming (especially for a track of relative metal-heaviness) there seems to be too many different guitars and tracks playing at the same time. While it's clear that there are melodies playing, it's difficult most of the time to distinguish any single guitar track and appreciate it's melody without it being drowned out by all of the noise. Still, it's solid for what it is and enjoyable worth a few times.

'%' is the undeniable highlight of the EP. Despite sharing the same problems the other two tracks have, it is able to condense itself into an optimistic wall of sound that always cares enough to take a break from the noise once in a while.

'$' is the thrashiest and most heavy portion of ']]][[[,' but it picks up some melodic atmosphere along the way which helps it be a good track, although there are none of the 'beauty moments' that made 'Portmanteau' or 'The Discovery' such great works. Some bass droning helps top off the EP, ending what I consider to be an above-mediocre, but not incredible release. While the wall-of-sound has worked for artists in the past (like Devin Townsend,) I am not warming up to this density of Cloudkicker's newer music. In any case however, I eagerly await the man's next musical serving.

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