Scale The Summit - V

While instrumental music in the overarching realms of rock and metal over the past decade or so has given birth to some truly phenomenal bands, it's easy to cave by classifying these bands as simply "instrumental". If you asked a metal fan who some of their favorite instrumental bands are, it might not be a surprise to hear them mention bands as stylistically divergent as Animals As Leaders and Explosions in the Sky in the same breath. One band which has woven a unique patch in this instrumental tapestry, however, is Scale the Summit. The band's technical prowess blended with warm and organic rhythms has cemented them a spot in the upper echelon of the current progressive metal scene. Without fail, Scale the Summit reveals a new depth of complexity and honing of craft with each release. SPOILER ALERT: Their newest release, V, is the band's fifth album (shocker), which takes the listener through familiar, yet welcome territory. Like a mixing pot with their four previous albums thrown in, V represents a cumulative pinnacle for Scale the Summit.

Why Can't the Grammys Get Metal Right?

I’ll start this post by saying that I know the Grammys are worthless, that they’re not so much a celebration of artistic integrity and merit as they are a way for the music industry to pat itself on the back for another year where CD sales haven’t stopped completely. There’s absolutely no reason to get worked up over such an occasion, no reason to care who or what gets nominated, much less who or what wins. But because this is the internet, I have an issue with the Grammys, and because this is a metal blog, you’ve probably surmised that my issue has to do with the nominees for best Metal Performance.

We'll Do It Live Fridays: Triple Header

As you may or may not know, Mick and I sat down with Chris Letchford from Scale the Summit this past Wednesday night in Chicago for an exclusive Brutalitopia interview.  What you may or may not also know is that this interview took place during the band's stop on their tour with Mouth of the Architect and Intronaut.  What you probably DO know is that all three of these bands are absolutely exceptional, both on their studio records and live in concert.  So in a special sort of WDILF twist, the kind you can only get on a site that doesn't care about rules and established traditions, today you get THREE live videos, one each from Mouth of the Architect, Scale the Summit, and Intronaut.  Hopefully seeing those will encourage you to get out and see the show when it stops near you, because this is the sort of show people hang themselves for missing.  Check out my picks after the jump.

Exclusive Interview - Chris Letchford

This past Wednesday, Mick and I braved what the local meteorologists said could be the worst storm to hit Chicago in years to make it down to the Double Door and see a fantastic tour: Mouth of the Architect, Scale the Summit, and Intronaut.  Check out my thoughts on the show and our interview we had with Chris Letchford after the break!

Torrent-Free Tuesdays: June 11th, 2013

Back in the days before the internet and album leaks, if you wanted to hear music you had to wait for its release day, at which point you went to your local Best Buy or other record store to pick up a cd or record.  In celebration of this physical media, Brutalitopia will be bringing you a weekly look at what’s coming out each Tuesday, with notes about some of the more notable releases (Editor’s Note: “Notable” is completely subjective and can and will mean whatever Durf wants it to mean on a week to week basis).  Find out what's happening this week after the jump.

Scale The Summit - The Migration

It's not often you find a band who gets exponentially better with each release, much less over the course of their first four albums.  It seems, however, that this inevitable forward motion comes second nature to the progressive power house that is Scale the Summit.  With their latest release, The Migration, they’ve raised the bar for themselves yet again.  While this album is lush with passages that are as sonically beautiful as they are clean, there is also an abundance of grooves that are so undoubtedly heavy and well-executed that a certain vibrant attitude of “let’s rock and let’s have tons of fun doing it” permeates the whole album.  It’s this very attitude that makes The Migration one of their best works to date.

Exclusive Interview: Scale The Summit

This past Monday (3/28/11), I was lucky enough to meet up and chat with Scale The Summit guitarist, Chris Letchford.  We talked about his perception of The Collective, the band's recent album release, and other things that are on the horizon for Scale The Summit.  Chris was an absolute pleasure to talk to, and totally shredded it up during their performance.  It's no secret that we're fans of Scale The Summit here at Brutalitopia.  So it goes without saying that we wish them all the best.  We're hoping to catch up with them and our buddies in The Human Abstract over their upcoming summer tour.  Be sure to check out The Collective.  It's surely one of the best albums 2011 has offered us yet.



Be sure to check out two full songs I managed to record form Scale The Summit's performance in Chicago after the break!

Pull Me From The Gallows (of being late)

"You're late, Brutalitopia." As punishment, you must continue to stare at my fancy watch.

So I'm definitely behind everybody else in reporting this, but I can't not post this stuff.  It's just too awesome.  

Check out the two bits of news I actually cared about this week after the break.

We'll Do It Live Fridays: Scale The Collective



Will it surprise you that I'm choosing another prog band for my WDILF post today?  I didn't think so.  But with this band coming out with what may surely make many year end lists this Tuesday, I thought it would only be appropriate to give them their WDILF debut.  Find out who it is after the break!

New Human Abstract + New Scale The Summit + Full Darkest Hour Album Stream = Too Much To Handle In One Day

Like seriously people, I can't take this constant barrage of epicness.  I've said on numerous occassions, like many others, that 2011 will be an insane year for new releases.  If you don't believe me, read after the break and see what just came out today that surely predicts epicness in your listening future.

Did I Mention There's A Bunch Of New Stuff To Be Looking Forward To?!

Soooo much new music!



So if I haven't made it clear to any of you yet how much new music there is to look forward to in 2011, this should make my point crystal clear.  Three bands of note have released new tracks that make me super excited to get their new albums that are all coming out fairly soon.  See who I'm talking about after the break.

Scale The Summit Announces New Album

To further my notion of how 2011 will be the year of prog (see my WDILF post below), Scale the Summit has just officially announced that their new album, entitled The Collective, will be released on March 1st via Prosthetic records.  Get pumped everybody.  Scale the Summit is for real.

-Mick

Scale The Summit Announces Upcoming Tour With Periphery!

Your favorite Houston based instrumental band, Scale The Summit, has just announced a tour this coming spring with Periphery and Fair To Midland! It's been a little too long since we've heard anything from these guys so I'm glad that the first thing we do hear back from them is about tour dates.  Dates can be found below after the break.