TO LEAVE THE EARTH

Going from insultingly simplistic to exhaustingly complex, it is astonishing how this EP maintains one's attention. Expect heavy metal outbursts laced with and framed by psychedelic madness. Despite the repetitiveness of the second track, I find that this EP spiked with many melodic and rhythmic ideas.

"Flight" A rising, vivid wash of sound casts itself away as soon as it had come.

"Dust on My Tongue" A Tex-Mex stand-off plants the listener right in the middle of a Quentin Tarantino flick. The song doesn't change style until ten minutes in, when a mildly discordant riff and caustic metal vibe govern. Surprisingly creative bass and guitar riffs compete for dominance. Think about Yes imitating The Mars Volta but playing sludge metal instead.

"The Calm" Hushed voices and acoustic guitar massages the listener after the onslaught of the previous piece, and prepares them for the forthcoming storm.

"Io" Bright, metallic music, interspersed with a talented drum solo and acrid riffs create the finest piece of the foursome. There is a passage that sounds like it was lifted right from Yes' "Sound Chaser," yet it has an elevated fierceness.