SAOL/ H’Art (2012)

A Swiss quartet who play a unique brand of polyrhythmic metal with electronic fusion and melodic death vocals (aka bad cop on the verses, good cop on the choruses)- welcome to the world of Neosis. Imagine the craziness of Strapping Young Lad against the mathematical rhythmic chaos of Meshuggah, then float in Soilwork and Fear Factory and you’ll have an idea of what to expect through songs such as “Unwilling Fate”, “The Deconstruction Of Reality”, and “The New Paradigm”. Bassist Did Bender evokes the nu-metal down-tuned pop throughout, and the multi-layered chorus harmonies aren’t as much Depeche Mode as they are boy band sugar sweet.

I’m on the fence about these 10 songs. When the reference points are obvious, the band really has to hone in on some special aspect of performance or songwriting to become unique- and I don’t feel Neosis at this point in time can display this. North Americans may go ballistic over these tracks, but I doubt mainland Europe will know what to make of the marriage of metal and technology.

www.neosis.ch
www.saol-music.com

Rating: 3 / 6

Composed by Matt Coe