INK COMPATIBLE

Even when the disclaimer tells you to not put five stars (I mean, sparingly) every time you want, you should get this album and submit a review (after this one) putting the same rating as me. I'll put some reasons: Ron Jarzombek and Marty Friedman having an epic battle on the trade-offs showcased on ACRONYM. Some meters there that in order to understand what the hell is going on you have to count up to 32, but without sounding like robots (something not found on Ink Complete.) There is a lot of heartful playing of almost everyone there (again, something not found on Ink Complete.) You'll have the invaluable presence of Sean Malone (Gordian Knot, OSI, Cynic), one of my favorite bass players and an extraordinary musician that also plays the Stick (here playing fretless.) Michael Manring (Mike Keneally, Yo' Miles) adding more unbelievable bass parts to the mix. A bunch of drummers that surely would give Neil Peart enough reasons to stop soloing the way he does; and weirdness that makes me think on Trout Mask Replica by Beefheart, with musicianship going directly into the vein of the most challenging parts of Zappa, Yes, UK or even Return to Forever. But with the power of thrash metal (occasional 7-strings, and their respective awful vocals --whenever I can, I skip these parts off.) You could think of it as the most crazed Dream Theater but on acid, or Watchtower with 15 years of evolution. A masterpiece. A real masterpiece of metal or fusion or everything. And if you don't beleive that Bobby Jarzombek is actually playing these things, then you can go to their website and download a video of him playing and reading some "light" parts of Aquanet. You won't believe it. My favorite part is the solo section on "In Memory Of...", where... well, I don't know how to describe all the perfection in that minute.