Cosmic Jaguar - 2023 - The Order of the Jaguar Knights [mini-review]

(18:34; Cosmic Jaguar)



















Ukraine band Cosmic Jaguar are out with the EP "The Order of the Jaguar Knights", and progressive metal is probably the best manner in which to define the landscapes explored on this production. I suspect that thrash metal may be the foundation for this band's various excursions, but what defines their compositions is a liberal array of changes and alterations in pace and intensity. Intense runs that cross over to extreme metal at times are just as important here as flowing and elegant interludes, and wedged in between those extremes we get an array of excursions into technically challenging and quirky territories, with both of those features combined more often than not. That the band have chosen to cover Cynic's 'Veil of Maya' is probably indicative of the direction they have chosen to orient themselves after, although for this cover as well as for their own originals with a bit less of a jazz-oriented expression than what I recall good, old Cynic used to have. A production to seek out by those fond of quirky and challenging progressive metal explored from a thrash metal foundation and perspective.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, November 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/cosmicjaguarthrash

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