Godstick — VOiD
Godsticks are a UK melodic progressive/alternative metal band that uses Eastern-sounding tonalities, powerful, clear melodic vocals, and repetitive, palm-muted, groove-oriented riffing, with occasional solos and shredding flourishes. I might compare it to Dream Theatre or the Karnivool album In Verses, which came out earlier this year. Though it is my first experience with the project, VOiD is their 7th album.
Their lightly progressive approach keeps emotion, groove and memorable melodic hooks as the primary focus, just like early 00's melodic metal groups like Breaking Benjamin or Disturbed, but there is a higher degree of musicianship and thoughtfulness to its construction than that genre typically demanded.
The solos erupt with beautiful, elaborate, soaring melodies that seem to reach beyond anything required by the largely verse/chorus structures of the songs. I've rarely heard such ornately embellished shredding outside of the likes of Necrophagist or guitar gods like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. The mathy, frenetic riff from the start of "Torn Again" sounds right out of the Converge or Dillinger Escape Plan songbook. I am also enthralled by the melancholic dark folk arpeggiations achieved in the ballad-like "Master of a Plan". Gavin Bushell's creative and virtuosic guitar creativity is generally the highlight of this recording.
The vocals fall somewhere between a classic operatic progressive metal style, as per Dream Theatre, and something more akin to Dave Draiman of Disturbed or Sully Erna from Godsmack. They are certainly powerfully performed and competently written, though they don't do as much to distinguish the band from other groups as the guitar playing. The rhythm section likewise trends towards the alternative influences of the group, playing straight-ahead, unembellished, but very powerful 4/4 patterns, meaning most of the groups' "progressive" classification really comes from guitarist Gavin Bushell.
Godsticks' VOid is a solid piece of catchy melodic metal elevated to god-tier status by the insane solo work from Gavin Bushell. Truly, some of the most singularly amazing solos I have heard on any album, including all of progressive and extreme metal. Passionate (though less technical) performances from the rest of the band cement them as a group that would certainly have a stunning live show. Between this and Karnivool, it's been a great year so far for this type of sound.