Review: Isphet- Escape Room

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Slovenian Instrumental Metal Project, Isphet, who have just released their new album, Escape Room (Below this written review is a video version).

This cool album has a lot to offer a variety of fans of different types of metal and has atmosphere and depth in spades. 

Escape Room's first song, "Fixated",starts with a heavy angular but melodic riff that brings the pain as it chugs along. The riff almost feels like a groovier version of something Dino Cazares would come up with in his prime.

It then settles down to some Phillip Glass-esque arpeggios sans drums and bass and then going to a more melodic section with some very modern sounding but well done harmonies.

The next song, "No Hearts In Here",starts with some cool ambient guitars and keyboards then a cool groovy riff with some great crisp drumwork and then alternating with a section much like the intro and then bringing the heaviness back, a cool trick that has a dreamy resolution.

Third song "Fail To Communicate" has some really heavy downtuned riffs and odd timings. One of the cool things regarding the guitar tone is that it is a lot drier and tighter than a lot of Djent tones I have heard, and this makes this song (along with the more ambient and almost funky parts that pop up) more interesting than more traditional fare using this approach.

The fourth song, "Prozac Nation", starts with a almost synthwave style arpeggio on synth in the beginning, and goes to more normal instrumentation otherwise. Featuring a cool slinky bass line, this song is a dreamy though melancolic exploration that continues in a melodious path throughout. It heavies up in it's second half, almost reminding me of Melodeath at times though not completely. This is probably my favorite so far, but I'm a sucker for keyboards and these types of melodies.

The next song, "Corridors", starts in a more ambient direction through some very obtuse and surreal melodies pushing an almost psychedelic fashion. It gets heavier again, as with most of the other songs, but simultaneously while taking the listener to where the more ambient part had started to take them. Some cool soft parts on guitar follow as well as a more enveloping atmosphere. A chugging prog metal onslaught follows complete with some greasy and cool mechanical style riffs.

"Above the Clouds", continues the album with more synth arpeggios, and the heaviness continues a bit earlier in this one. A more optimistic song in melodic structure, this song is definitely aptly titled complete with it's major sounding guitar melodies.

"Escape" is the final track, and doesn't disappoint with it's further heaviness and atmosphere. With some cool ambient guitar sections and bass pummeling, this song goes into different moods and feelings with aplomb being the longest track on the album.

Overall, is an interesting project. It features a lot of progressive influences but is unpretentious. It has ultra tight downtuned guitar riffs but doesn't really “djent”.  This is actually a relief! I like some Djent but it's sure refreshing. One of the stated influences in the bio is Nu Metal. I can see in some places where this may be the case with how the riffs are constructed, but overall not. I can see how all instrumental bands like Animals As Leaders are an influence, but as stated as before there is a lack of pretension inherent in the music that there is nearly no “wank” or shreddy guitar solos. Some comparisons can be made with artists such as Devin Townsend in the mix of atmosphere and heaviness, and this is a refreshing angle to take in a very real way.

You can hear and find out about this amazing artist at the following links:

https://isphet.bandcamp.com/releases