(Let’s get this right out of the way from the beginning…  yes, I am the father of the bassist in this band.  Yes, I have gone to multiple shows over the years and have caught these guys in their earlier incarnation as Eyes Like Comets even before my son joined.  And yes, getting all of the perceived nepotism out of the way…  these guys are good.  DAMN good.  Read on as to why.)

Those of you that read this blog or have read posts in this blog probably know that I like a lot of different music.  I’m always on the lookout for something new that will sink its claws deep into my soul, whether it be led by heavy guitar, a tuneful melody, solid backbeat, tricky time signatures, or a great hook laden song.  It’s a never ending hunt via the radio (which is a hit or miss prospect, mostly miss), television (the occasional cool music related channel), friends and family (always a good source), local artists (another good source), or the internet (the best source).  The older I get the worse I’ve become and the more fresh new sounds I need to hear, especially when it comes to the heavier genres that I listen to.  Growing up on bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, etc doesn’t necessarily mean that I want to hear that exact same thing.  The key for me is taking elements of those bands and adding your own flavor.  You may not get it or understand it on first listen, but there is something in those elements that keeps drawing you back in.

Having seen The Earth Laid Bare first in action about three or four years ago, I have seen tremendous growth in a band that had these basic elements early, continued to build on them, and have created something truly unique.  Circadian Rhythms was released in late April of 2014 and is an excellent mix of technical and atmospheric progressive metal.  Intro cut “The Overture” is an instrumental and kicks things off in grand fashion, starting with a simple piano and symphonic interlude to set the tone before the band kicks in after the first 30 seconds or so, mixing a jarring, choppy riff courtesy of lead guitarist Michael Bishop with Daniel Reinhart pushing the tempo with tricky stick work on the drumkit.  Track 2 is “Lost In Luxury”, the first cut featuring vocalist Jake Antony, whose aggressive, guttural style is strong throughout this disc.  The intro riff pattern is played in unison(!) between Michael and bassist Ian Remley before Jake’s vocal kicks in and a choppy riff returns during the verse.  However, this song takes off come the first chorus with a cool lead pattern and a slight change through the chorus before returning with the intro riff and ending in dramatic fashion.

Track 3, “Hypocrisy”, may just be my favorite on the disk as it builds on another strong musical intro pattern before kicking into another choppy riff with DJ Reinhart providing a solid rhythmic bed for Jake to lay into.  Around the one minute mark, comes the progressive change that takes this song into another realm-  Michael’s lead break here is relatively short (and reminiscent of Joe Satriani) but extremely melodic, building with Jake’s vocal and Ian pushing things along with the riff to take the song to new heights.  Shortly thereafter the song changes again on a slightly different riff before kicking back in with the intro to round things out.

Track 4 is “Mechanized”, possibly the most aggressive on the disk and featuring a more atonal riff after another solid, sweeping intro lead from Michael.  Jake again at the forefront here, mixing things up with some screams and deeper vocals to add to the heavier vibe.  This track also features the late Eric Gentry from A Feast For Kings on guest vocal, adding a different sonic element to this solid track.  Once again another excellent example of how the band takes a choppy riff, layers on a few choice melodic guitar runs, aggressive vocal, and great bass and drum playing to make a strong cut.

Last track rounding out the EP is “Divide And Conquer”, which was the intro cut released to the public before the EP’s debut.  Definitely a crowd favorite in the live shows, “Divide” fades in with an arpeggiated pattern that forms the basis of the song that the rest of the band builds from.  Jake and DJ kick things into gear with the intro vocal (“your existence has been proven meaningless…”) before Ian doubles Michael’s guitar pattern.  This song is a great example of the aural sonics that are found on this EP:  flowing in and out of the heavy riffs are often melodic guitar patterns to add a bit of light and shade and contrast to the solid crunch.  These patterns can be flurries of distorted notes, double tracked passages (either multiple guitars or guitar and bass), and single note patterns layered with echo.  Maybe the strongest chorus, simple yet effective and one that builds in intensity at their live shows.

The Earth Laid Bare is hard at work on their new release and from what I’ve heard, the guys continue to build on their momentum and are taking their music to another level.  With second guitarist Waylon Baker added to the band shortly after the release of the EP, the band has been able to increase the level of dramatic intensity via new atmospheric sonics and has become a formidable live unit as well.  The new music remains heavy and aggressive with adding just the right touch of technicality and progression on top of their thought provoking lyrics.

Circadian Rhythms can be purchased via iTunes, BandCamp, or via compact disc at one of their shows.