KOYAANISQATSY

Listening diary 8th March, 2022: Koyaanisqatsy - From the Yearning to Burst the Perpetual Circle (neoclassical progressive metal, 2000)

It's probably no surprise that this album has something of a cult - it's a one-off album from a band with a strange name, in a style that has honestly not been explored as much as you'd think. Sure, there's tons of symphonic progressive metal, and tons of instrumental technical stuff, but not a lot that really first partway through that. This is an instrumental metal album that doesn't feel like it's there to show off how good the guitarist is. In fact, entire parts of this feel like a piece of classical music, with the same focus on instrumental melodies, recurring motifs and slow mood changes. The guitar here isn't a lead, shining above the rest, it's just a part of an orchestra. This is a symphony, not a concerto. But it has a ceiling - power metal has never interested me and although it's great to have some without any nail scratching vocals, the sections of instrumental power chugging aren't particularly interesting. There are also parts where the limits of creating an orchestra with keyboards in the year 2000 show up - this sounds painfully fake for great lengths. At times when the melodies are good enough to carry it, that's fine, but there are sections where that isn't the case.

6.6 (4th listen)

Part of my listening diary from my facebook music blog - www.facebook.com/TheExoskeletalJunction

Koyaanisqatsy - It means ''Life out of balance'' in the language of the Hopi Indians is an unknow progressive metal band from Munich - Germany releasing one album in 2000 named From the Yearning to Burst the Perpetual Circle. Entire album is instrumental , so every musician try and proves that they know bussines in this field, they have enough room to show to the listner how great they are both in handle the iinstruments and in compositions. I was very pleased when I've heared this album, lots of great keyboards arrangements with some excellent guitar chops ever known in progressive metal genre. A captivating album with a lot to offer, is sad that they are so unknown to larger public, they desearve for sure a wider recognition, because this album is excellent. Great musicianship and brilliant song writting. Ok isa not a masterpiece of the genre but is a damn good one in every way. Just listen to the brilliant pieces like Memoria or Way of Thoughts, sheer briliancy. 4 stars , that means a great album for sure , towards excellent but nothing near masterpiece status, still very enjoyble and recommended if you like this kind of stuff, progressive metal with neo classical leanings here and there.