Singularity – Singularity

Genre : Progressive Black/Death
Country : U.S.A.
Label : Self-Released
Year : 2014

Singularity’s album was dropped like a bomb a few days ago in my mail, after just one listen it went on the top of my list for 2014’s top albums and I haven’t listened to anything else since. The completely unknown –not for long- band from Phoenix Arizona (my favorite NBA team btw) have crafted a technical death and symphonic black hybrid so well put together like very rarely I have heard before. The key to their success is imo the combination of elements found in two amazing and beloved bands, i.e. Emperor (in their last two albums) and Necrophagist, while there are also hints of Dimmu Borgir in the way keyboards are used and orchestration is put together. The band’s technical skills are just absurd. The drumming brings to mind the giant Nicholas Barker, being rapid and powerful. The rhythm guitars segue easily from extra-technical death to hyperfast sharp black playing, while their leads are plain divine. The vocals again serve the albums dual character, springing from the two foretold metal genres and being in complete harmony altogether. The complexity of their songwriting and the multileveled orchestration reaches the point of progressive metal and, even after listening to the album several times one can still discover new details in the songs. The album’s sound is crystal clear, allowing the amazing compositions to unfold smoothly. Finally, I would like to mention the inspiring lyrical work, which is related to future apocalypse, diastric travel, black holes and other similar science fiction themes. I have nothing more to add here besides recommending that you listen to this album, if you are a fan of extreme metal.

5/6