Hello metalheads!  This John back with another review for you!  This is one I’ve been excited about for quite a while now.  The band is called Leylines and they have a self titled EP(Leylines) coming out on October 11th via Silent Pendulum Records.  

I’m not sure when I first got wind that this band was forming but boy was I excited.  The vocalist is Johnathon Carpenter who did some amazing work with The Contortionist one of my favorite albums called “Exoplanet”.  Their drummer is Michael Ranne JR. who used to play in Through the Eyes of the Dead whom I have listened to quite a bit!  I also follow him on social media and I know he is also tracking drums for another band(Hypaethral) that has a ripping EP out already.  The other members I don’t know a whole lot of background about, but I do look forward to learn more about the other members as they release more music and keep going on 

This EP has a very chaotic sound to their approach but it also has a very “headbangable” feel to everything.  The riffs are choppy and sound difficult as hell to play, but can also transform into groovy, heavy and downright nasty lines to play at the drop of a hat.   The drums are so precise and just everywhere it’s crazy!  On one hand(literally) it sounds as if he is just keeping time, but in reality he is all over the kit adding to the chaos but also keeping it organized.  Johnathon sounds great on this, his lows gutturals are crushing and mid screams are consistently on point.  

The first single that came out is “Blindspots” and that was a fantastic opener!  The opening of this is so hard to count it’s wild.  I have extensive background in music at a college level and found it incredibly difficult to count!  This is what caught my ear as soon as I found this band and track.  There is always a snare hit or cymbal to follow, but there is so much going on underneath its pure organized chaos.  At about a third of the way through the track there is a sick guitar line that just makes my head spin with complexity.  After that there is a brutal breakdown, that makes its way into an atmospheric passage.  

The last two tracks on the EP are my two favorites.  “Myriad of Illusion” start with this ominous ambiance that is carried over from the previous track.  This turns into a very chaotic and brutal breakdown with a riff hidden in there.  The absolute destruction that they bring before going to a fast clip is amazing.  The absolute precision of the crazy changes is on full display.  It is every instrument and every the vocals match up perfect too.  The futuristic and whole tone oriented guitar line at the 2:50 mark made my head explode the first few times i heard it.  They try to fool us with a brief quiet passage before bringing a massive breakdown back in out of nowhere at the very end of the track.

“Spectre Tactics” starts out with a vey rhythmic guitar and double bass that turns into a slower passage that keeps up the ferocity.  This then turns into a choppy section that has a very technical passages in it.  It then slows WAY down into a sluggish breakdown that would make anyone want to throw down and throw kicks in a mosh pit.  There is another technical thrash inspired section that quickly turns into another breakdown heavy section.  The finale of this track and EP, sums up the album in fantastic fashion I with a heavy and rhythmic flourish.  

This stream of consciousness composition is so hard to write and think about, but damn are they fun to listen to.  I am not too well versed in this side of metal/death metal, but I really need to get on it after liking this so much.  I found myself saying “Jesus Christ” and “Holy fuck” a ton while to this onslaught on my ears.  I like this a ton and would comfortably give this a 9/10 without hesitation.  As I said before, the organized chaos combined with technical displays is wild!  

Don’t forget to give this band a follow on all of their platforms which I will list below.  They also released a video a week before this comes out called “Spineless”.

https://www.facebook.com/Leylinestechmetal?mibextid=LQQJ4d

https://leylinesus.bandcamp.com/track/blindspots

https://www.instagram.com/leylinesbandus/