I seriously don’t quite know where to start with this release. Such is the growing enjoyment that subsequent listens to this masterful gem of technical and progressive metal give me, and I will apologize now as I am going to wax lyrical in this review! This cacophonous slab of sound has it all – weirdness, technicality, brutality, and a hypnotic undertone that four months in a flotation tank couldn’t match!The artists (and YES.....I mean artists in the literal sense here) behind “The Machinations of Dementia” are the exceptionally talented guitarist Ron Jarzombek (Spastic Ink, Gordian Knot), bass fiend Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) and skinsman Charlie Zeleny (Behold....The Arctopus).
What happens when you get three technically proficient musicians coming together to record a piece of music? (no joke coming......)
Well.........it can all go horribly wrong, with each musician’s abilities pulling the songs in so many different directions, that it just doesn’t work, with songs literally being torn apart by each member’s desire to be musical master of the century. This is why this album is so special. Jarzombek, Webster and Zeleny deserve recognition and acclaim for this album, because they manage to seamlessly integrate all their many talents AND leave you with an experience that captivates, crushes and enthrals. Without a doubt, this is heavier than Jarzombek’s previous releases with Spastic Ink, but the music is still full of the expected chicanery, misdirections, and downright mischief!
First track “Synaptic Plasticity” says it all in the name. It has groove, energy and is its own living, breathing beast. The bass simply sounding beautiful with the guitar work swirling around the disrhythmic movements. The energy this music possesses is just unbelievable, with the power to relax and cause tension within the listener in the same piece. And even some parts that you think....”hmmmm.... that sounds out of place” - don’t sound out of place (you’ll understand!) The care and attention from all three that has gone into this is top drawer – as you would expect with musicians that are held in high regard by their peers. It just has to be heard to be believed!
“Brain Fingerprinting” contains some slower sections before descending into the maelstrom of madness; the serenity being replaced by chaotic tunes. If the band’s brains were to be “fingerprinted” whilst recording this album then the police would have a very unique set of prints that would probably resemble the thought patterns of several genius scientists crossed with their malformed Frankenstein like experiments!!
“Oscillation Cycles” is a beauty, with a wonderful slow-mid tempo sludge that feels good and rocks nicely before coming onto my favourite; “Activation Synthesis Theory”. The unnerving sound of the heart beat speeding up in the first minute leaving you tense and begging for a release. Trust me......it happens! About the one minute mark, this song causes me to have palpitations (probably in time with the maniacal rhythms that are occurring!!). For me, this number has it all......near perfection.
“REM” is weird but works well, and “Bleeding the Brain” showcases (as with most of the songs) the outstanding Ron Jarzombek. This boy can play the guitar AND make it sound bloody good!!
The middle section to “Vegetation” does indeed remind me of vegging out, and the naming of the songs quite disturbingly do correspond to the feeling in the brain that the music conjures within each piece!! Songs like “Narcolepsy” and “Sleep Deprivation” summing either the tense feeling or mellowness where applicable. In fact, “Narcolepsy” is top drawer. The musical thread being allowed to unravel before becoming cohesive and disintegrating again. The material on this release is allowed to “breathe”; this obviously being the mark of musicians who are at the top of their game, who love their music, and who respect their music too. And it shows. This has to be one of the most rewarding listens of the last few years, and despite whatever reservations fans of progressive metal have about brutality or vice versa (folks – I’m a total Cannibal Corpse junkie!), this is a must listen. So if you like your Atheist, Spastic Ink, Cynic, Watchtower (Jarzombek again), Gorguts or Meshuggah then you’ll like this. But even my mate who is into his Rush, Yes and Pink Floyd asked me for more of the same!!
Everyone will have their favourite track I’m sure. But this is not about individual three minute easy fixes. This is about the piece of music as a whole, and music as a whole. With “The Machinations of Dementia”, Blotted Science have released something fresh, inventive and enjoyable, and something which all three musicians should be very proud of. In my humble opinion, this is a clear contender for release of the year – in ANY genre. It really is THAT good!
www.myspace.com/blottedscience
www.ronjarzombek.com/Blottedscience.html