93696

This album is criminally underrated on this site, and as of writing this 93696 is my favorite prog album of 2023 and on of my favorite Prog Metal albums in general. The album sonically is amazing, no joke i want to hear this played in a large empty church, everything to the screams to the guitars, synths, strings, bass and drums is mixed beautifully and flows so so so smoothly. The album opens up with a short calm intro track that turns into the second and true beginning of the album Djennaration showcasing everything the album has to offer from the insane black metal fused with strings to the glitchy electronic breakdowns. It wastes no time highlighting the screeching distorted guitar tone and bombastic drum performance that seems to be at odds with the whimsical nature of the melody being played. The track is littered with idiosyncrasies like the way the vocal quarter note hits towards the beginning of the song are just slightly behind the beat, or the jarring electronic beat that happens a bit later. Themes are built and recontextualized in clever ways and pitted against each other later on giving the track a feeling of scope and grandeur. It ends in appropriately climactic fashion, and I am left wanting nothing more from an opening track. With the strength of its soaring string sections, marvelous choral vocals, and gargantuan guitar riffs, in the span of 83 minutes this record will lift you up to the heavens and slam you back down on the ground one hundred times over until you're beaten to a pulp. The intensity and grandiosity on display is indescribable as this album reaches emotional heights that very few pieces of music have ever reached 93696 is a truly one of the best examples of a band fully realizing their creative vision. If you want a unique modern prog metal experience then this is it please do yourself a favor and check this album out