 Epoch Of Unlight What Will Be Has Been, the debut offering from the four member outfit from Tennessee known as Epoch Of Unlight, is a prime example of an album high on technicality, yet suffering from a lack of soul. The outfit perform high speed metal music that adopts certain traditions from black, death, power and progressive metals. The execution of this material is, in terms of technical proficiency, absolutely stunning, particularly the percussion work of Tino LoSicco, whose performance on this recording is nothing short of mind-blowing. The songs are arranged in highly complex patterns, creating a labyrinth of musical complication that very often threatens to spiral completely out of control. The songs are developed through an intricate structure that allows for much instrumental free-styling. If the listener is a musician, or has ever attempted to learn an instrument, he/she will glare in awe at the stereo speakers while this CD spins. Again, the standout here is drummer LoSicco who is just all over his kit. His playing is quite schizophrenic, and takes on much of the responsibility for initiating movements within the songs. It is almost as if the structure of these tracks was created by LoSicco’s drum patterns. Guitars are impressive as well, as the musicians churn out high-speed standards of various metal riffing in virtuosity that spirals, ascends and descends in conjunction, and sometimes not, with LoSicco’s manic work. Vocals switch between an insane blackened screech and a low death grunt, with occasional silly effect-enhanced spoken sections. The lyrics seem to be linked from song to song, and appear to tell a story of some sort, perhaps something to do with a particular battle between forces in another dimension. Or something. Whatever the case, as much thought seems to have gone into their construction as well as the music, something that is always welcome even in instances that are lacking in inspirational value. "Legions align on the red high land hills As is typically the case with music of high technicality and complex structure, this work is emotionally vacant. For those listeners who are not musicians and therefore cannot appreciate the instrumental proficiency as much as those who are, this music will offer very little to hold onto. There is emptiness within the core of these songs, leaving the album an experience in sterility. There is very little feeling in this music, and this combined with the difficulty distinguishing between tracks and haphazard songwriting, leads to ultimate indifference. At times, an atmosphere of a unique form is allowed to penetrate the sonic maelstrom. However, it is soon strangled by the over-playing Epoch Of Unlight are so skilled at. There is potential here for an interesting atmospheric blend of futuristic urban decay and ancient warlust, yet this is never given a chance to shine through. Unfortunate, as this could have enhanced this into a work of high regard.
Tracklisting 1. Ad Infinitum Epoch Of Unlight Discography What Will Be Has Been (The End, 1998)
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