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Ideas of Reference
Psyopus
Ideas of Reference
Genres: Pop, Rock, Metal
 
  •  Track Listings (9) - Disc #1

Metal-Core

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Psyopus
Title: Ideas of Reference
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Metal Blade
Release Date: 10/19/2004
Genres: Pop, Rock, Metal
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 039841450828, 790168521829

Synopsis

Album Description
Metal-Core

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Member CD Reviews

Todd B. from PASCOAG, RI
Reviewed on 6/11/2007...
insane tech grind. unreal.

CD Reviews

Damn
General Zombie | the West | 03/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was gonna wait around, try and really pick apart this album and analyze, but screw it. There's no need. Simply put, this is the craziest metal album I've ever heard. Imagine The End (the 'Transfer Trachea...' ep) mixed with Necrophagist with the jazz influence cranked way up. And though I've only listened to it maybe 7 times so far, I may be prepared to declare 'Ideas of Reference' to be the finest, most compelling sheer madness album out there, dethroning the now legendary 'Calculating Infinity' album.



Now keep in mind, I've never been the sorta person to insist that music needs to be very technical to be good. True, the best album's combine strong songwriting with high technical ability, but if you can only have one you take the songwriting in a heartbeat. This album has nothing to recommend it in terms of conventional songwriting, but Psyopus have taken incessant wanking to a new level, transcending self-indulgence and moving into realms of pure madness and genius. I don't know if any of the tracks really add up to a terribly cohesive whole, but the individual parts are staggering enough that it doesn't much matter. Though they're all amazing, the guitarist, Chris Arp is who really matters. He virtually never plays straight, chugging riffs, but rather winding, circular and ridiculously fast metal-jazz runs and licks, combined with harsh, staggering walls of noise. He is literally astounding to listen to. What's more, Psyopus has a sorta distinct flavor amongst the numerous tech-metal bands out there, with the sharp, clear guitar tone and the prevalent use of blast-beats. The vocalist, your standard 'core shouter, is nothing special, and the vocal lines are virtually never of interest, but they don't really need to be. And though they may only have a few very specifics sounds, they use them all well, moving constantly but surprisingly smoothly from one of movement to the next.



Amazing stuff. Maybe I'll eventually become somewhat less excited about it, due to the lack of conventional songwriting, but it's pretty damn impressive now."
Obscene amalgamation of tech-metal and avant-jazz.
Lord Chimp | Monkey World | 03/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"how to describe the experience of _Ideas of Reference_? It sounds like the high-precision brutality of Dillinger Escape Plan with the grinding complexity of King Crimson MkV, the fusionesque proficiency of Mahavishnu Orchestra, and spazzed-out instrumental passages from the darkest, freakiest fantasies of Dream Theater (stuff they would never go on to perform themselves). Erratic speeds, unrelenting assaults, frenetic percussiveness, and mangled, atonal guitar riffs make it sound like the disgusting, mutant cousin of avant-jazz and extreme metal on a major amphetamine binge! All that, combined with a unique use of texture and attentive use of additive rhythms, overlapping time relations, and meter changes. This is a group dripping ingenuity and pragmatism, and power enough to kill an elephant. highly recommended."