One of the best things that ever happened to metal and rock is the introduction of jazz fusion, and if Gordian Knot and the Jelly Jam weren't convincing enough of that, now you have Nebelnest. And fortunately, they have nothing to do with Dream Theater.

Their new album, ZePTO, is a disc that's equal parts Rush and equal parts Allan Holdsworth. The band plays dark instrumental rock that's been laced with jazz, oftentimes sounding like a side-project of Yakuza on their more acid-flavored binges of space jazz. It's dark, and the ambience is extremely eerie, but in a very cerebral and creeping way. It's not unlike the band to throw in some Primus-like guitar noise, or then unleash a massive, swaggering wall-of-sound, reminiscent of Behold... the Arctopus!

It's not until the third track, "The Old Ones," that you get the feeling that this album is really alive. It's like the mad scientist who reasoned his was into insanity. Fuzzed out bass lines compliment synthed-out midi melodies as the chorus breathes life and awe into the insane, but at-peace sound that pretty much epitomizes ZePTO.

Essentially, if you've ever wanted to know what elevator music in an alien spaceship sounds like, Nebelnest can make the revelation for you. Fans of Allan Holdsworth, Rush, Zombi, and Gordian Knot will definitely appreciate this. (8.5/10)