THEORY IN PRACTICE

The "Evolving Transhumanism (2015)" single featured a continuation of the technical/progressive death metal sound of "Colonizing the Sun (2002)", almost to the point where the listener didn´t notice the 13 year gap between the two releases, and "Crescendo Dezign" continues down the same musical path as those two releases. The musicianship is on a very high level, and the tracks feature several jaw-dropping technical parts, loads of tempo- and time signature changes, and also a futuristic sci-fi atmosphere (sometimes enhanced by keyboards), which along with the technical playing creates the right environment for the material on the 5 track, 19:23 minutes long EP to shine. The vocals are predominantly aggressive growling, but there are a few clean vocal parts on the EP too.

"Crescendo Dezign" features a powerful, clear, and detailed sound production, which suits the material on the EP well. Nothing on "Crescendo Dezign" is left to chance. It feels like there is a plan for everything and that it´s a plan Theory in Practice have worked on in detail and are now executing with seamless ease. These guys are seasoned professionals and it´s a joy listening to a release as convincing as "Crescendo Dezign". Fans of technical/progressive death metal with a sci-fi atmosphere are recommended to take a listen. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

Stylistically the two tracks on the 9:08 minutes long single pretty much continue the technical/progressive death metal style of "Colonizing the Sun (2002)". In fact it´s almost eerie how a band can be on hiatus for 13 years, and return sounding almost like they were never gone, but that´s more or less the case here. The technical level of playing is astonishing to say the least, and there are several jaw-dropping moments of technical bliss throughout the release. In the case of Theory in Practice, the technical playing is a means to an end though, so there are no unnecessary technical noodling here. You get plenty of death metal brutality to accompany the furiously fast-paced technical riffs and rhythms. The vocals are an aggressive snarling, which suits the music perfectly instead of a deeper growling vocal style.

"Evolving Transhumanism" features a professional, clear, and powerful sound production, so upon conclusion it´s a great comeback release by Theory in Practice. Fans of their earlier work should definitely pay attention here, and for technical/progressive death metal fans in general this is a worthwhile release too. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

The sound quality is not very good, and I especially dislike the crunchy guitar sound. It´s not sharp enough for this kind of music. The musicians are pretty good but I don´t particularly like the drummer Henrik Ohlsson. I think he seems a bit untight.

The compositions are basically death metal with tech metal tendencies and I know a lot of albums in this genre that I would rather listen to than this one. It´s just too generic and not innovative enough. Lots of things happen in the songs, but it´s poorly executed and I have forgotten the songs as soon as the album is over.

This is only a 2 star album for me and I would recommend that you listen to Theory In Practise second album The Armageddon Theories instead if you´re curious about the band.

There have been some changes since their last album The Armageddon Theories. The music has become a bit more accesible without ever touching the commercial though. The Armageddon Theories was a technical Death Metal tour de force with brilliant melodic solos and a fierce vocal delivery. The ever changing rythm patterns and time changes kept that one very interessting througout. I am not as impressed with Colonizing the Sun. It´s pretty good though.

Theory in Practice have incorporated more melodic playing into their style and the technical time changes are kept more simple ( well simple compared to their previous efforts, not simple in other contexts), which means they sound more like a normal melodic swedish death metal band now. To some listeners this will be a good thing, but it kind of turns me off. I liked their more unaccesible sound. One more thing about the album is the vocals. They have a very processed sound, and that is too bad since I really loved Henrik Ohlsson´s extremely fierce vocals on The Armageddon Theories. I guess he got tired of spitting blood after each rehearsal and concert.

I have to note that the production is very clean and nice this time around. The Armageddon Theories didn´t have the best sound, but Colonizing the Sun has a very professional sounding production.

All in all this is a good technical death metal album. Theory in Practice is still a very agressive band and the technical playing on the album should satisfy most fans of the genre. I just don´t feel it´s genre defining or above average. 3 stars.

There is an overall sci-fi feel to the lyrics and the music that I really like. It´s dark and brutal.

The music is very technical death metal with lots of beautiful leads and motifs played by the guitar. I will have to mention Henrik Ohlsson´s vocals as they are sinister and aggressive growls ( pretty understandable really).

I´m not sure who this album is meant for, but I think lovers of brutal and technical death metal, that is not like your average tech death metal can enjoy this as I do. Prog heads won´t get much out of this, as it is way too metal.

either way, these guys are in a league of their own, and had definitely developed their own sound, another great disc in the rather short history of tech metal with a rather low population of great bands.

But those leads man, those leads! insane. The drumming is stellar as well (also check out the drummer's other bands; Altered Aeon for great aggressive thrash with great leads, Scar Symmetry for that melodic death metal a la Soilwork- only better).

nice, very nice!