Autocatalytica

Autocatalytica’s third album ‘Powerclashing Maximalism’ established the Canadian progressive metal band as certified risk-takers who are also capable of thrusting the listener into battle with a full-blown prog-symphonic power-metal orchestra

The engine of the album is driven by rhythmechanical guitars and drums, teeth-grinding pot-smashing riffs and augmented by alluring arpeggios, meandering melodic runs & frantic rolls in between… all adding up to a behemoth of a sonic force.

The balance and transitions between melodic vocals and verses and throaty growling hooks, structural breakdowns and open, free-flowing instrumental sections are definitely to my liking, with some edgy musicianship and borderline virtuosity on display along the likes of ‘Mike Stern or Dave Fuzinski meets modern metal maestros‘ - think Devin Townsend, Textures, Lamb Of God & Pain of Salvation.

The band exhibits surprising stints of sensitivity like in Trash Serum, versatility and a sense of humour like in ‘Bananas have Potassium’ before hurtling the listener back into a chasm of growling abyss like in the deliberately slow and haunting ‘Crawboi’, a tumultuous downpour of emotion and energy like in Cheggo and a contrary yet complementary outro ‘Graveo’.

Looking back, ‘Powerclashing Maximalism’ was definitely one of the most interesting metal gems from 2020.