SHAPE WITHOUT FORM

The music on Shape Without Form is best described as instrumental symphonic metal. The symphonic instrumentation is more modern sounding and not of the neo-classical or power metal variety. The musicians are obviously skilled. "Frankenstein's" is a fairly decent song.

But overall, I find it difficult to get behind this record being instrumental. There is simply not enough melody in the rhythm section or synth and piano parts throughout the songs to justify the lack of lead vocals. Good instrumental metal is not just run of the mill metal riffage minus the vocals. Rather, the music must make a concerted effort to say something over and above to compensate for the usual melodic driver. Think Plini or even Animals As Leaders where the music, despite being instrumental, can often be hummed along to. Ghost Toast on this record seems to be having none of it.