HERD OF INSTINCT

An intense album showing the influence of mid-1970s King Crimson as filtered through more modern revivalist acts like Porcupine Tree or Djam Karet (indeed, the album came out on Djam Karet's own Firepool Records label), Herd of Instinct's self-titled release is a compelling mostly-instrumental affair. You get the impression listening to this that if they wanted to, Herd of Instinct could be a devastatingly heavy technical extreme metal band, but instead they go for a more musically diverse sound which displays a wide sonic palette. With impeccable production and excellent performances, the band also strike a fine balance between showcasing technical proficiency and maintaining a distinctive tone and atmosphere.