To Destroy A City - To Destroy A City (2011)

 

Chicago, Illinois based instrumentalists To Destroy A City are a young three-piece that just formed in 2010. For such a new band, they sure are skilled at their craft, and that is an understatement. Their self-titled debut was released in 2011 and combines elements of ambient, post-rock, industrial, and electronic. There are even a few pieces that follow in the direction of shoegaze. Instrumentals and melodies mesh together to create simple, yet layered soundscapes. The unique layering of sound is what gives this self-titled its richness and fullness. The album takes the listener on a journey through pure ambience, pulsating beats, and meditative instrumentation. Influences such as Nine Inch Nails, Boards of Canada, and the post-rock roots of The Appleseed Cast come to mind, but when it comes down to it, the album honestly has a sound of its own. This is an excellent album and I highly recommend it to anyone that likes to sit back and get lost in the textures and soundscapes of ambient music. Click on the bandcamp link below and you will get to name your price for the album. That is a hard deal to beat, so do yourself a favor and get the album.

http://www.todestroyacity.com/

Check out the second track 'Narcotic Sea' from To Destroy A City's self-titled debut here:

Mental Architects - Patience, Communication, Understanding, Go!

The first word that comes to mind when listening to Bulgarian math-rockers Mental Architects is unique. Their newest EP entitled "Patience, Communication, Understanding, Go!", is a collection of complex guitar work and heavy hitting drums. The EP goes beyond the norms of traditional rock music and is a fine example of what math-rock should sound like. "Patience, Communication, Understanding, Go!" starts off with the track 'Go!', which is the first officially released single off of the EP. This is a heavy and aggressive track and starts the EP off with a bang. 'Count To Eleven' is a very unique track and really stands out from the other tracks, in my opinion. This track is heavy, but less aggressive than the rest. The third track 'Ash On Your Tongue' is an interesting listen and has a different structure than the other tracks. The track starts and ends with heavy and fast guitar parts, but the rest of the track is more melodic and a lot slower. The final track 'We Shall Make Each Other' has a tone that is slower and more melodic. At times, the track speeds up, which initially leads into an epic closer. Overall, Mental Architects' "Patience, Communication, Understanding, Go!" is an interesting and unique EP for such a young band. This music is definitely skilled and it can really be felt as well. I highly recommend picking up this latest offering from Mental Architects.

Check out the track 'Count To Eleven' off of Mental Architects' "Patience, Communication, Understanding, Go!":