BOOK 1: DR. BREACHER

Out of a new wave of super-eclectic Progheads inspired by the likes of BTBAM and Native Construct, Others By No One comes onto the scene. Hearing it now, I can't believe this passed me by (what, going on 5 years ago?!). Their 2017 debut album, Book I: Dr. Breacher, indeed has all the marks of those who came before. I think this is a legacy of eclecticism and fearless experimentation that first sprouted from the likes of John Zorn and Bill Laswell, eventually culminating earliest on in the eventually-90s Crossover-Thrash-meets-Demon-Circus-Lounge act Mr. Bungle. They were the ones, I'm sure with the great production assistance of Zorn, who really broke open the door to this level of wild, at times schizophrenic, experimentation (these Others seem a tad more safe in this camp than, say, BTBAM).

A beautiful and heartfelt (and highly melodic) opener, "Brand-New Remedy" reminds in quite a few ways of the exemplary love song mini-epic of the same shift in pace and feeling from 'the norm' as "Your Familiar Face" by Native Construct; in the latter's case, a wild, melodic and lovey-dovey Prog-metal devotion to Queen to many a listener's ears.

"Death of a Clone", featuring at times neo-classical trills more-so for their camp in Queen-esque style. Another track of beauty but also surprise and alarm. A lot of epic, sprawling instrumentation and group vocals/harmonies. First alarm sounds off nearing minute 4, only to ease immediately into soft, clean playing. These guys really know how to play the field and play it masterfully regardless. The way everything is mixed too gives the music an even greater intensity.

"Dr. Breacher and the Time Travel Anomaly", its first half released as a 10-minute single, is in total a 20- minute epic of feeling and beauty, darkness and brutality. This is, in fact, the heaviest thing we've heard from Others By No One so far! Virtuoso guitarings atop heavy and relentless accompaniment from all camps. Spectacular and grandiose, shifting and sliding from one moment to the next; from dark Progressive/Technical Deathcore to sweeping, emotive and soft soundscapes with the most beautiful of vocal harmonies. This indeed, especially starting around minute 4, strikes as Native Construct devotion; how could I blame them? See the very epic mini-epic "Chromatic Aberration" from their debut. From belligerence and brutality to something sweeter, the greatest shift occurs around minute 5 and will tickle the fancy of many a Prog fan's ears. Strange, hypnotic and yet simultaneously melodic and beautiful. Compositional excellence, for sure! Thinking you'll end on a sweet note here, the single version would effectively leave the listener on a dark, eerie cliffhanger... I think a nice touch. And thereafter, back off to the races they go, with familiarly Fusion-inspired modern Progressive guitar melodies. Things swell to a fantastic, triumphant point until dropping off entirely to creeping solo piano met then by the whole ensemble chanting together--these aren't 'gang' vocals as you know them... Spectacular. I love the sound of static that closes the whole affair out...

If I can be as clear as possible, a song-by-song average results in a True(st) Rate of 4.83/5.00.