Album review: INTRONAUT – Habitual Levitations

June 5th, 2013 by Yiannis

Century Media – Out Now.

When it comes to choosing which albums to review for our site, the parameters I have set are actually pretty straightforward and simple: the more diverse, demanding and unique a band is the more inclined I am to work with it. It was no surprise then that the task of reviewing “Habitual Levitations”, the fourth studio album by the Lost Angeles-based Post/Progressive/Experimental Metal quartet Intronaut was mine, therefore.

Being quite intrigued by the fact that such a band had inked a contract with Century Media rather than its more specialist and Prog-focused partner company Inside Out, I soon found out why after I started listening to the nine compositions on offer.

Trying to classify Intronaut in a single genre is an impossible task: elements as diverse as Jazz, psychedelic Rock and modern Metal operate and co-habit on this album on an equal standing. It is, however, the band’s tendency to depend on polyrhythmic sections similar to Fates Warning and on the repetitive harmonies of the Voivod pedigree that really make Intronaut a suitable and worthy addition to the Century Media roster.

The album’s compositions provide enough space for the four musicians to showcase their skills (and, believe me, they do so in full), but the one person who really shines through is bassist Joe Lester whose clever grooves and rhythmical themes border on the sensational. A word of warning, nevertheless – the band’s need to constantly challenge “normal” musical patterns, at times, can mean that you are likely to spend a lot of time on trying to connect with the material on offer – something that might put off those who lack patience and normally opt for more straight-forward and easily-digestible music.

The band’s experimental tendencies are perfectly showcased by the eight minute opening track “Killing Birds With Stones” – a composition which is based upon a slow heavy/groovy and whose dreamy lead guitar harmonies really steal the show. The opening few seconds of “The Welding” sound terribly like Voivod “Nothingface”-era but its short and repetitive riffs will appeal more to fans of Tool or modern day Fates Warning (both bands I am particularly fond of).

Bassist Joe Lester truly exceeds himself during the break of “Steps” while the acoustic guitar theme provided in “Sore Sight For Eyes” adds volumes to its emotional appeal. Though the intelligent melodies of “Milk Leg” made it my first composition of choice, my preference later shifted to “Harmonomicon” as the bass and lead guitar work here are simply stunning.

Ever-changing rhythmical patterns and melodic themes characterise the remaining three compositions of the album with the Tool-influenced “The Way Down” marginally winning the ‘decisive race’ between them – a great compliment for any album really.

As I mentioned earlier, “Habitual Levitations” is not the kind of album that you can get into after a couple of spins but rather one that demands a more classic approach – one that involves you sitting down and focusing on the task at hand. Does that make it a bad album?

Of course not – on the contrary: it is the kind of album that all fans of good quality music ought to look out for! It does mean, however, that Intronaut should not expect their fourth studio album to earn them millions, but something tells me they weren’t counting on that anyway…

John Stefanis

Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)

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