Review Summary: A surprise for those expecting another Faceless clone.
Ever since the release of
Planetary Duality in 2008, technical death metal bands have forever been doomed to receive numerous comparisons to the Faceless. The album’s critical success and overall popularity made it visible to many metal fans and transformed it into
the benchmark for any modern tech-death release. Whether or not that’s a worthy title is up to the individual--but nevertheless, the Faceless had earned a top position on the metaphorical tech-death mountain. The Zenith Passage faced the same comments as many other genre mates for their debut
Cosmic Dissonance. Although a strong EP, the album got criticized for containing influence from
Planetary Duality. To make things worse, Michael Keene himself was revealed as the one mastering The Zenith Passage’s upcoming follow-up
Solipsist. People were already imagining another Faceless clone and didn’t expect much from the California group.
The Zenith Passage indeed show their inspirations obviously. With songs like “Holographic Principle II: Convergence” and “Simulated Reality”, Michael Keene’s influence is really felt. One of the biggest changes here is the addition of clean vocals, used occasionally in parts of the aforementioned songs. The bass is, for the majority of the record, made much more audible, and its presence helps guide along the songs and add variety to instrumental breaks. “Luminary Singularity”, for instance, kicks off with a bass riff and features prominent bass parts throughout. Combined with a furious onslaught from the percussion section, the bass adds a serious punch. The rhythm section is, in general, an improvement from previous efforts by the band. The guitar section is no slouch either, playing with much more confidence and vitality than on
Cosmic Dissonance. “Holographic Principle II: Convergence” hits the listener hard from the get-go with a barrage of rich tech-death shredding, dissonant clean vocals resonating in the background. Here, some backing electronics are utilized. Such elements commonly reappear within
Solipsist , adding extra depth to the tracks. “The Dissension Consensus”, for example, surprises the listener with an effective breakdown and ends with symphonic samples and a choir.
Similarly to First Fragment, The Zenith Passage prefer to use fast tempos here, with the vast majority of the album proceeding quickly with melodic guitars and a fury of percussion. The outfit flexes their more progressive muscles with tracks such as “Hypnagogia”, which does exhibit slower parts and more varied time signature changes. All tracks are led by a commanding vocal performance from Greg Hampton, whose punishing lows and vicious highs incorporate more authority into the band’s performance. “Metaphysical Solipsism” is certainly a highlight in this regard; Greg’s voice fits in perfectly with the furious guitar riffing, crushing drums and bass. The entire album--melodic, technical guitars, improved rhythm section, and backing sample elements--really manifests into tracks such as “The Dissension Consensus”. Traversing through fast and slow tempos and even a breakdown, The Zenith Passage take every opportunity to show off the real strength of their upgraded sound.
The Faceless reservations people had are definitely not groundless, but they do not distract from the final product. Rather, Keene’s involvement with the project has really enhanced the band’s progression. Unlike
Cosmic Dissonance, the album sounds heavier overall, each riff crashing down with considerably more power. The band isn’t afraid to use brute force now; the tracks are loud and in-your-face, showcasing an unrelenting strength that only lets up when unnecessary instrumental breaks weasel their way in. For the most part, the soloing and general tech-death clichés are kept in check and the band avoids becoming over-indulgent--the exception being the superfluous filler tracks. The issue here is that the filler here only serves to detach the listener to far from the heightened brutality of the record, and that really hurts when that viciousness is one of the album’s strongest features. The keytar solo on “Dreamsphere” still retains enjoyment, but it overstays its welcome and leaves the listener too long for the next song.
Regardless of unavoidable comparisons, The Zenith Passage have constructed a very strong record, overcoming expectations and improving massively in all categories. With songs such as “The Dissension Consensus” and “Metaphysical Solipsism”, the Cali outfit has set a sturdy foundation to build off of.
Solipsist is most certainly the most logical progression from Cosmic Dissonance, containing a load of energy and passion throughout that can be experienced in every track. Having gained publicity from their signing to Unique Leader, it can only be up from here. The Zenith Passage have sent out a clear message that they’re not to be cast aside as a Faceless clone and are ready to challenge the modern genre giants.
