review by: Brandon Strader
The new release by Ephel Duath is so full of diversity, different genres, influences, sound, it is just overwhelming. It can be somewhat described as jazz fusion mixed with progressive metal and screamo. It goes without saying this is an odd combination, and it begets equally odd music.
The big question regarding this album is this: can something so inconsistent be listened to and enjoyed by the listener who has an average attention span? Of course, "inconsistent" is applied positively when describing this album. There are serious outbursts with distorted screaming for about one bar, which then breaks down into a bit of jazz... which leads into another passage of heavy screaming, and on and on, however there is the occasional instrumental "jam session" with jazz-influenced guitars when they take the bass line for a walk which is coherent (to a jazzy point) and quite enjoyable.
There are so many aspects to the mix, so many sounds coming at you from every direction that it is nearly impossible to pinpoint the production of a single sound for sure. The only sound that is truly consistent on this album is the heavy guitar tone. The guitars have a variety of effects put on when played as a lead, but the rhythms are just regularly distorted. The majority of the rhythm work cascades through jazz chords and scales. The bass lines are so magnificent on this album... they break away from the average single-notes-and-slow-progressions used by most bands today. It's good to see a bassist who can perform such a serious jam over such chaotic music.
A lot of the time, the music seems very spontaneous. This probably puts extra strain on the drummer, who does a great job on the album. He can play very fast when it's required of him, yet also play calmer, more atmospheric sections. Some of the best work for the percussion is on the toms during certain passages of the album, where they are used to make a tribal kind of vibe. The jazz percussion is very fanciful as well, you've almost got to hear it to believe it.
A highly underrated band... I guess people aren't really into the whole jazz metal fusion thing nowadays. Nonetheless, they're worth checking out. It's something original, creative, and highly artistic. (8.7/10)
review by: Matt Smith
Pain Necessary to Know is anything but boring. Listening to this album leads you to believe that Ephel Duath has the most drastic, confrontational, multiple-personality disorder in metal today. The band trades between Isis-style sludge complete with radically distorted screams and lounge-y jazz grooves, held together with the echoes of meandering guitars. The transitions aren't always clean, but this is exactly the point – Ephel Duath is trying to jar anyone nearby into consciousness.
The only other example of this type of blend that comes to mind is Cephalic Carnage's "Hybrid," but Pain Necessary to Know is much more drastic and more prolonged. The jazzy sections take a psychedelic bent, with soft drums and easy guitars lulling you into a false sense of relaxation that will soon be ripped away with one prolonged scream and the press of some pedals.
Besides some of the slow metal grooves, this release is pretty cerebral, sort of like the swing period of jazz giving way to complex but undanceable bop. There aren't any horns, unfortunately – they could add a new dimension to the surreal mix. But the drums and guitars do lay down some enjoyable lines.
The entire album is pretty unstructured, with one song blending into another with only the screams to set sections apart. And the musicianship isn't exactly mind-blowing, but the album is both progressive and challenging. More than anything, Ephel Duath should be appreciated for doing something different from the norm – hopefully more bands will heed their call away from the mainstream and incorporate more experimentation into their repertoires. Ephel Duath will be interesting to watch; I look forward to their future works. Although not a work of genius, Pain Necessary to Know will please anyone looking for something different. (8/10)
