Search - Into the Moat :: Design

More blistering tech-metal

General Zombie | the West | 08/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As is so often the case, the truth about Into the Moat lies somewhere in between what the varying factions claim. In short, they do sound quite a lot like The Dillinger Escape Plan, but they should hardly be slagged off as nothing but mere pretenders. What it comes down to is this: Into the Moat are a tech-metalcore band, and The Dillinger Escape Plan's 'Calculating Infinity' is pretty much the definitive and best known tech-metalcore album. Complaining about them as DEP knockoffs makes about as much sense as saying that every thrash band is just a Metallica ripoff. (Still, that whole it's like comparing Megadeth to Morbid Angel thing that other guy said is way over selling the point. They're pretty damn similar, and occupy the same basic niche, unlike those two bands.)



That said, this is definitely metalcore, not death metal. Honestly, the division between tech-core and tech-death is usually pretty damn superficial, but in these superficial ways, (vox, guitar tone etc.) they lean more towards the core stuff. Still, it's got some death metal flavor to it, and it's more serious and straight forward than lots of tech-core. The jazz influence is massive, with quite a few softer jazz interludes and tons of sharp, jazz licks throughout the heavier parts (In this way, they remind me a lot of Psyopus. I'd say this comparison is more relevant than the DEP one, as they tend to come across as a slightly conventionalized, more bruising Psyopus.) Tempo and time changes abound, naturally, though they actually like to slow it down a bit more than most bands of this sort. This doesn't cut down on the technicality, however, they just make the slow parts all the more ridiculous and nasty, and particularly love the whole sudden alternation between ultra slow grooves and blast beats. Overall, this is some very, very complicated stuff, even by the standards of the genre. The guitar tone is somewhat bassier, more deathy than your usual metalcore band, though it's not at all messy, particularly in the higher parts which are extremely sharp and clear. And, overall, the feel and songwriting of the band are just a bit more, well, rockin' than you'd here from Psyopus or DEP, which tend to be more of a blur. The vocals, ehh, they might as well not be there. Two voices, one which is total metalcore, the other could pass itself of as either core or death. (Though I'd say it leans slightly towards metalcore, overall.) There are no particularly interesting vocal lines, nor is anything catchy, but this is pretty much par the course for this kind of music.



The tracks do tend to blend together a bit, but it's all exciting enough while you're listening to it that this isn't too much of a caveat. Suffice to say, I can't imagine any reason why tech-metal fans wouldn't like this."

This is an incredible Tech metal release.

General Zombie | 12/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan of uncontrollable, fast, but intelligent music this album is what you are looking for. This is The Dillinger Escape Plan meets From A Second Story Window. They combine DEP's over the top, complex, technical, and unpredictable song writting formula and merge it with FASSW's brutality. This album has incredible diversity and will impress almost anyone, who likes off beat music. These guys are not perfect though. They sometimes feel a little flat. This album is like a slightly old coke. Semi flat, but still refreshing and fizzy enough. Before you buy it I advise you to listen to some of the full songs. Check out thier Myspace & Purevolume. If you like what you hear, I highly advise you buy this."

"The Design" for excellent music!

Rainor | San Antonio, TX | 08/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Into The Moat. Where do you begin to describe such a band? First off, while I don't like to categorize bands, I will do so for the sake of the consumer who has not yet heard ITM. Technical metal with slight death-metal influences, and moderate jazz influences.



"The Design" is a technical masterpiece with expert production quality and even better musicianship. Any musician will truly appreciate the exquisite instrumentation from musicians who refuse to limit themselves. This is not to say that you have to be a musician to enjoy this album, you just might enjoy it more if you are.



Throughout "The Design" there are constant changes of not only tempo and time signature, but how the music is played within those time signatures. What is not expected, but enjoyed immensely, are the jazz influences within the album. You can't listen for very long before hearing a jazz breakdown somewhere, or a guitar riff that borrows heavily from jazz music. The only thing consistent about the tempos on this album is that they are constantly shifting. Not only do ITM play speedier tempos, but they know how to slow it down as well. That is not to say that this album is soft, maybe at times atmospheric, but never soft!



The production quality of the album is top notch, and all the instruments are crisp and easy to distinguish in the mix. The guitar has a clarity of tone owing to a nice medium-heavy distortion not too heavy on the bass, and riffs that involve more than just chugging along the lowest notes of the fretboard. The vocals are good, with the vocalist utilizing two somewhat similar styles of screaming. There is his medium depth scream, which is not quite a growl, but has nice lower qualities too it, and a scream that is slightly higher in pitch than the first, but not quite as high as a shriek. Nowhere in either of ITM's records will you find singing.



The drumming is superb and, I believe, the highlight of the album! Being that I myself am a drummer, my opinion may be somewhat biased, though I try to remain objective. Matthew Gossman weaves his way through the maze that is "The Design" with an experts touch, creating pulsating rhythm's with intensity, groove, and, when called for: blast beats! Double bass is executely tastefully, and never monotonous. While he won't win any speed records soon, not to say he doesn't go fast when necessary, his strength lies in his creativity of play within odd time-signatures and syncopated rhythms!



One of the nicest things about ITM's "The Design" is that, while the music is busy, it is never overdone. This is, in a genre that can often mistake how much you play for how well you play, actually quite refreshing! There are never ridiculous quitar solo's played atop seemingly never ending blast beats that compete against each other rather than play with each other! ITM understand that just as much can be said with what you don't play, as with what you do play.



Having said all this, my one complaint- which in reality is a compliment- is that the album is too short. With nine songs clocking in just under thirty-three mintues, the experience seems to be over just as it begun. Despite that, this album is an album that you will experience over and over, and each time you will walk away with something new!"