Unexpect from Canada

 

Their PA bio:

Though they were predated by a straightforward thrash metal band, Unexpect have quickly evolved into one of the prog world's most forward thinking outfits. Combing operatic elements and shades of classical music with nearly every style of metal imaginable (from death through to gothic metal) and topping it off with an extremely challenging avant-garde approach, their sound must be heard to be believed. The group's seeds were planted by a thrash ground called Unepxected, whose ranks included guitarist/vocalist Artagoth and bassist Zircon. In 1996 the group expanded to add guitarist/vocalist Syriak and drummer Ben Gelinas, at which point they shortened their name to Unexpect and began encorperating new influences into their sound. The following year Lunorin took over as drummer, with keyboardist Merzeny, violinist Le Batleur and female vocalist Elda expanding their lineup to a whopping seven people, with whom they would record the melodic death metal influenced Utopia in 1998 (to be released independantly in 1999). In the following years Zircon, Elda and Merzenya would all depart from the band, to be replaced by bassist ChaotH (infamous for his use of a 9 string bass) and female vocalist Leïlindel. Lunorin changed his instrument to keyboards and his name to ExoD, with Landryx completing their lineup in 2003 as the new drummer. The _We, Invaders EP came out on Galy Records in 2003 and showcased the band's shocking evolution into an avant-garde monster, a path fully realized on 2006's In a Flesh Aquarium (released on The End RecordS).

Unexpect are truly a boundary pushing group, and should appeal to fans of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Augury, Kayo Dot and Arcturus, but most importantly to anybody seeking a serious challenge or shock from their musical diet.

 

 

 

 

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Links from their website for more info, reviews and interviews: