Deorbit - 2023 - Retrogradient [mini-review]

(40:29; Deorbit)

US band Deorbit are out with the album "Retrogradient", and progressive metal is the style explored on this production. It is an instrumental variety of the form we get here, and one that in my view at least explore the progressive metal tradition in a little bit of an unusual manner. This is a distinctly heavy set affair throughout, but the defining aspect of the album as a whole can be summarized in the word motion. We get energetic surges or drop downs in tempo by the drummer. The guitars may slow down or speed up independent of what the rhythm section are doing, and alterations from rhythm based riffs to flowing riff textures and back are pulled off in a fluid and seamless manner. What I presume is a dulcimer may chime in with some world music details beneath at times too, and in between all of this the songs themselves may shift between thrash and even a bit of extreme metal in overall direction just as much as stepping down to more traditional heavy metal or doom metal territories. With occasional side steps into gentler and more atmospheric laden territories. If a heavy set variety of progressive metal where a just about constant and fluid motion and movement are key features strikes you as an interesting manner in which to explore this style of music, this is an album to take note of.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, November 2023

Links:
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