Initial Mass (US) - Heavy Prog

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   These guys have been around for quite a while now, they haven't been suggested before, and I get a definite 'Rush' kick off them, so I reckon Heavy Prog is probably going to be the team to hear them out. I don't really hear any true 'metal' in their music to be honest, and though some of their music would definitely fit in Crossover, I think they're too heavy overall to be a proper fit in that sub genre.

Longtime friends Mark BALDWIN (singer/songwriter/guitarist), Kevin ROBERTSON (drums) and Scott SMITH (bass) launched their Los Angeles based power trio 'INITIAL MASS' in 2015, playing a heavy, dark and melodic brand of music, with songs boasting odd time signatures, complex arrangements and hard hitting rock sensibilities.

After releasing their debut album 'Time & Measure' in 2016, the trio followed it up in 2018 with an epic concept album called 'Tidal Force' - an hour-long opus consisting of ten hard hitting songs building a central narrative that explores the struggles and victories of the common man. 

Their third album 'Bending Light' was produced by Eddie VELIZ, vocalist and guitarist for L.A. based stoner metal trio KYNG, and released in 2019. INITIAL MASS had been toying with the idea of creating another concept album - possibly a sequel - but VELIZ inspired them to shift their focus to what bassist Scott SMITH calls "an album of great tunes." The band had always wanted to make every album sound different, so they followed his lead to make it a tighter work, with more energy and shorter, standalone songs.

The band signed with Italian progressive rock label Luminol Records in October 2022, and released their fourth album 'Alluvium' in January 2023.

Time & Measure (2016): https://initialmass.bandcamp.com/album/time-measure.

1. Time & Measure (3:43) 
2. Through Lenses (5:55) 
3. Circadian Rhythms (7:22) 
4. Pouring On The Earth (6:50) 
5. This Feeling (4:03) 
6. Flux Lucida (6:29) 
7. Just Chemicals (7:39) 
8. Some Other Day (4:23) 
9. The Vergence (5:30) 
10. Happy Here (4:28) 

Total time 56:22

Tidal Force (2018): https://initialmass.bandcamp.com/album/tidal-force.

1. Lights (6:34) 
2. The Fountain (5:57) 
3. When It Rains (4:23) 
4. Cold Air (6:37) 
5. The Shallows (5:26) 
6. Beyond The Shore (2:40) 
7. The Vessel (5:42) 
8. Tidal Force (14:05) 
9. The Flood (5:24) 
10. Past Remains (4:58) 

Total time 61:46

Bending Light (2019): https://initialmass.bandcamp.com/album/bending-light.

1. Killing Heroes (3:20) 
2. Bending Light (4:50) 
3. Reason To Take (3:10) 
4. Piece By Piece (4:17) 
5. Resolution (4:20) 
6. Silence No More (4:13) 
7. Alchemy (4:14) 
8. Years Past (3:41) 
9. Embers Within (2:45) 

Total time 34:50

Alluvium (2023): https://open.spotify.com/album/3gTQdqvci6zIg4WDNCucGm.

01. Hadean's Fall (6:04)
02. Trails Behind (2:42)
03. Out Of The Mold (3:12)
04. Horizon (3:54)
05. Wake (6:27)
06. Calm Wind (3:30)
07. Believers (3:33)
08. Memory Fade (4:02)
09. Drifting (4:26)
10. The Calling (3:54)
11. A Crow In The Dark (5:26)
12. Vacant Throne (5:07)
13. In Stone (7:28)

Total Time: 59:45

- Mark Baldwin / guitar, vocals
- Kevin Robertson / drums
- Scott Smith / bass

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4FR0qLgojU4rDLX9RC9Vgu.
https://initialmass.com/band.
https://www.facebook.com/initial.mass.

Edit: For those who don't use Spotify, the fourth album 'Alluvium' can be heard as a playlist on YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kCzz1ArEiTeF0971AEFI4bYEu-YRzHqbU.

Note: Both Spotify and YouTube give the year of release as 2022, but I can assure you the album was released on Friday, 13th January 2023. The two streaming platforms have been informed of the error, but are yet to correct it.

Edited by yam yam - January 29 2023 at 01:18

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yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Crossover Team Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 7087	Post Options Post Reply Quote yam yam Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Topic: Initial Mass (US) - Heavy Prog Posted: January 29 2023 at 00:42
	These guys have been around for quite a while now, they haven't been suggested before, and I get a definite 'Rush' kick off them, so I reckon Heavy Prog is probably going to be the team to hear them out. I don't really hear any true 'metal' in their music to be honest, and though some of their music would definitely fit in Crossover, I think they're too heavy overall to be a proper fit in that sub genre. Longtime friends Mark BALDWIN (singer/songwriter/guitarist), Kevin ROBERTSON (drums) and Scott SMITH (bass) launched their Los Angeles based power trio 'INITIAL MASS' in 2015, playing a heavy, dark and melodic brand of music, with songs boasting odd time signatures, complex arrangements and hard hitting rock sensibilities. After releasing their debut album 'Time & Measure' in 2016, the trio followed it up in 2018 with an epic concept album called 'Tidal Force' - an hour-long opus consisting of ten hard hitting songs building a central narrative that explores the struggles and victories of the common man. Their third album 'Bending Light' was produced by Eddie VELIZ, vocalist and guitarist for L.A. based stoner metal trio KYNG, and released in 2019. INITIAL MASS had been toying with the idea of creating another concept album - possibly a sequel - but VELIZ inspired them to shift their focus to what bassist Scott SMITH calls "an album of great tunes." The band had always wanted to make every album sound different, so they followed his lead to make it a tighter work, with more energy and shorter, standalone songs. The band signed with Italian progressive rock label Luminol Records in October 2022, and released their fourth album 'Alluvium' in January 2023. Time & Measure (2016): https://initialmass.bandcamp.com/album/time-measure. 1. Time & Measure (3:43) 2. Through Lenses (5:55) 3. Circadian Rhythms (7:22) 4. Pouring On The Earth (6:50) 5. This Feeling (4:03) 6. Flux Lucida (6:29) 7. Just Chemicals (7:39) 8. Some Other Day (4:23) 9. The Vergence (5:30) 10. Happy Here (4:28) Total time 56:22 Tidal Force (2018): https://initialmass.bandcamp.com/album/tidal-force. 1. Lights (6:34) 2. The Fountain (5:57) 3. When It Rains (4:23) 4. Cold Air (6:37) 5. The Shallows (5:26) 6. Beyond The Shore (2:40) 7. The Vessel (5:42) 8. Tidal Force (14:05) 9. The Flood (5:24) 10. Past Remains (4:58) Total time 61:46 Bending Light (2019): https://initialmass.bandcamp.com/album/bending-light. 1. Killing Heroes (3:20) 2. Bending Light (4:50) 3. Reason To Take (3:10) 4. Piece By Piece (4:17) 5. Resolution (4:20) 6. Silence No More (4:13) 7. Alchemy (4:14) 8. Years Past (3:41) 9. Embers Within (2:45) Total time 34:50 Alluvium (2023): https://open.spotify.com/album/3gTQdqvci6zIg4WDNCucGm. 01. Hadean's Fall (6:04) 02. Trails Behind (2:42) 03. Out Of The Mold (3:12) 04. Horizon (3:54) 05. Wake (6:27) 06. Calm Wind (3:30) 07. Believers (3:33) 08. Memory Fade (4:02) 09. Drifting (4:26) 10. The Calling (3:54) 11. A Crow In The Dark (5:26) 12. Vacant Throne (5:07) 13. In Stone (7:28) Total Time: 59:45 - Mark Baldwin / guitar, vocals - Kevin Robertson / drums - Scott Smith / bass https://open.spotify.com/artist/4FR0qLgojU4rDLX9RC9Vgu. https://initialmass.com/band. https://www.facebook.com/initial.mass. Edit: For those who don't use Spotify, the fourth album 'Alluvium' can be heard as a playlist on YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kCzz1ArEiTeF0971AEFI4bYEu-YRzHqbU. Note: Both Spotify and YouTube give the year of release as 2022, but I can assure you the album was released on Friday, 13th January 2023. The two streaming platforms have been informed of the error, but are yet to correct it. Edited by yam yam - January 29 2023 at 01:18

rdtprog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Heavy, RPI, Symph, JR/F Canterbury Teams Joined: April 04 2009 Location: Mtl, QC Status: Offline Points: 5400	Post Options Post Reply Quote rdtprog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 29 2023 at 06:08
	Ok on the progfreak chart.
	Music is the refuge of souls ulcerated by happiness. Emile M. Cioran

BrufordFreak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 25 2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 8430	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrufordFreak Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 29 2023 at 08:14
	In case you still want my participation: Big YES to Initial Mass for PA admission through the Heavy Prog portal. Their first album felt to me more like Porcupine Tree from the Naughties, the second a pure Rush clone, with the third going heavier, thicker, though more eclectic (old metal and new metal) in its inspirations and similarities. Interesting band.
	Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/

yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Crossover Team Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 7087	Post Options Post Reply Quote yam yam Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 11 2023 at 12:51
	Added to Heavy Prog: https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=12381. Thanks Louis!