FRAKTAL

Staggeringly good power trio out of Germany doing some great things with the fusion of metal and tech-jazz, with an emphasis on the metal and a streamlined sound that still holds a lot of feeling. Like a younger and leaner Planet X, guitarist/synthist Benjamin Schwenin, drummer Thorsten Harnitz, and bass player H.D. Lorenz bring together the teeth of cleanly distorted guitar lines, laserbeam synth harmonies, and a solid rhythmic foundation. The title cut crunches with demanding, oddly-timed riffs and sweet electronics. 'Chaoslace' is a bit more straight-forward and evokes Satriani style colors and nu-metallic landscapes as does 'The Virtual Factor' which shows-off Ben Schwenin's exceptional talents on guitar, and 'Watercoloured' is softer and flowing. The trio delivers a precise and powerful tech-fusion without overwhelming the senses like some of the contemporary extremists can, and fans of Steve Morse, Satch and other high-end instrumentalists should thoroughly appreciate Counter-World Experience. A winner, and any of their three CDs will do.