LOST SIGNAL

One of the more interesting and experimental black metal bands around must be Code, and with this new EP they have decided to revisit their last four albums and experiment with songs from each of them. What is a little surprising is that of the six songs on offer, three of them are from their most recent album, 'Mut', with just one taken from each of the others. The result is something that is incredibly compelling, as they mix the emotional atmospheric sounds of BM with Muse to create something that is easy to listen to, yet strangely quite disturbing at the same time. There are elements of Burzum in some of their approach, and it is a deeply compelling work throughout, with the one major flaw being that it is less than thirty minutes in length, which is not nearly long enough. The first three tracks are from 'Mut', then 'Resplendent Grotesque', then 'Augur Nox' before ending with "Brass Dogs" which was originally on the debut, 'Nouveau Gloaming', which came out in 2005.

It is the first three songs on this EP that work the best for me, possibly showing just how far they have come in recent years. But, there isn't a dull moment, and anyone into post rock, BM, experimental prog metal etc. will find a great deal here to enjoy. That they cross so many musical boundaries are a testament to Aort, who has kept the band going all these years, and hopefully it won't be too long until we get the next full-length release. For more details visit the label site at www.agoniarecords.com

"Lost Signal" is an EP release by UK progressive/avant rock/metal act Code. The EP was released through Agonia Records in January 2017. It's the successor to the band's fourth full-length studio album "Mut" from 2015 and features the same lineup as the album does.

"Lost Signal" doesn't contain any new original material but instead feautures 6 re-recorded and re-arranged tracks from the band's four preceding studio albums. Three tracks off "Mut (2015)" and one track from each of the other three studio albums "Nouveau Gloaming (2005)", "Resplendent Grotesque (2009)", and "Augur Nox (2013)". The tracks off "Mut (2015)" are given a slightly more raw and gritty treatment, while the three tracks from the first three albums are arranged to sound more like the dark and heavy progressive/avant rock/metal of "Mut (2015)". So the black metal influences of the past are mostly gone from the band's sound at this point, although the occasional snarling vocal phrase still stubbornly holds on to a minimal extreme metal orientation. "Lost Signal" however predominantly features clean vocals by lead vocalist Wacian.

Code manage to make the listener feel that "Lost Signal" was recorded live, that's how gritty, authentic, and organic the EP sounds. It's a perfect sound production for the material. Add to that intriguing songwriting and high level musicianship and you have another high quality release by Code on your hands. One of the great things about Code at this point of their career, is that there's stylistic development between every release, and as a listener you just know that they aren't through developing their style yet, and that you can expect more surprises in the future. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.