IMO chaosphere is the only 'eh' album, though it does have a couple really cool tracks. their others just all seem to have more variety in elements to the music. i don't really know pre-destroy erase improve material so well.
Destroy Erase Improve- like if someone did a bit of inception 3D physics shit to metallica-ish riffs, and added in jazz fusion and 'labyrinthian' dreamlike atmospheres. the opener 'future breed machine' is probably their most classic tune, and for good reason. everything here is still forming and not as extreme as later stuff, but for what it is it's considered a real breakthrough. 'sublevels' is also awesome.
Chaosphere- they focused on complexifying the rhythms and polymeters, and speed. good development in that area, but it seems like that's all the album really is for the most part. definitely a frantic mechanic feel. highlights are "new millenium cyanide christ" and "the mouth licking what you've bled".
Nothing- now they go down to drop F and get groovier and darker. brought back the melodic jazz lead guitar like on destroy erase improve, as well. they'll stick with this low tuning and robotically binary human rage vocal style from now on. the second track 'rational gaze' should be our intuition's theme song, and it kind of reminded me of a heavier and more interesting "bulls on parade" by rage against the machine. 'closed eye visuals' has really grown on me as an all-time favorite song of theirs.
I- a medley of substance, really more of an EP than a full album- still a pretty cool listen. i had to split it up into 8 distinct tracks (because i'm that organized about filing music in my head). contains the frantic speed and dissonant finger tapping from chaosphere, along with the massive grooves of nothing. it also introduces a couple silent high-pitched melodic sections, thematic of the next release:
Catch 33- this is one 46-minute progressive 'piece'. took multiple listens to grow on me, probably want to check it out after getting more accustomed to the band's style. begins with one looping oddly-metered riff, and goes through subtle changes until it finally ends up in a different location. first half of the album is more about rhythmic 'illusions' and is more theoretically interesting than purely sonically blissful. after the silence-filled mind's mirrors, each track has more of a theme of its own; until it all culminates with 'sum' and ends in a great cataclysmic buildup-riff into a silent calm, with a really nice outro melody. i've used this section to fall asleep.
obZen- stylistically, somewhat like a combination of all their previous albums. probably the best as a beginner album, though it depends what styles of music you were most accustomed to. there isn't really any track that could be filler, and a few standouts are: bleed (known for its impossible drumming, good mix of speed, technicality, brutality and melody), obzen (somewhat like prog/math fear factory), combustion (more straightforward thrash but in their style) and dancers to a discordant system (somewhat of an epic song, picks up immensely halfway through with the chorus of odd-metered looping melodies harmonizing... then goes into an insanely crafted bridge rhythm, though the 4/4 triplet feel is so headbangable)
now why did i just do that?
