Jakub Zytecki
Wishful Lotus Proof

4.2
excellent

Review

by Thompson D. Gerhart STAFF
April 1st, 2015 | 54 replies

Release Date: 2015 | Tracklist

Review Summary: The crossroads of modern progressive metal in two acts.

Jakub Zytecki is the future. Whether or not you can accept that is on you, but Wishful Lotus Proof bears a foretaste of the sounds to come from the virtuoso in the making, showering us in the melodic aftermath of what the djent movement collapsed into. Dense, compressed, polymetered riffing and growls bandy about brass-knuckled bravado and ear-gripping tensions particularly on the first half of Wishful Lotus Proof while the latter half is better characterized by a more relaxed tone framed by melodic soloing. Both have equal parts in the modern state of progressive metal, but rarely are they as polarized as they are on Wishful Lotus Proof, with both aspects commanding equal yet opposite attentions. And yet, Zytecki makes the transition from one pole to another with apparent versatility.

Wishful Lotus Proof seems to draw some influence from the same electronic dabblings we've seen from Animals as Leaders, Periphery, and Chimp Spanner, most notably in the frequent appearance of rapid and highly processed drumming ("Yellow," "Avifors Day") and chiptunes in everything from rhythms to dark melodies ("Run!", "Nullity Rooted"). To his credit, Zytecki incorporates these elements into with the same sort of intent as an album like Weightless, but to a better result both in creating a dark, dystopian sound as on "Satya's Diary" and "Fall of Logic" and in creating melodic pieces of wonder as on "Avifors Day" and "Yellow."

While there are a host of musical guests on the album, it's a testament to the caliber of Zytecki's composing skills that each of his guests are featured on tracks where their skills are most appropriate. David Maxim Micic ("Eternal Fact of Water") and Plini ("Run!"), for example, feature heavily in steering the album towards the driving winds of melody, while Periphery's Misha Mansoor perfectly complements the electronic, off-the-wall "Nullity Rooted." It's a definite strength to incorporate other very talented musicians (something we've seen a lot of in this "scene," for lack of a better term), but it's an even greater strength to recognize and tap their best assets rather than simply plugging them into your scheme and asking for a guest solo.

With such a large range of musical guests and diversity in composure, there's a little something for everyone on Wishful Lotus Proof, which is both a great asset and a slight burden. Tracks like "Majin" may primarily appeal to the ultra-dense djent crowd, though it also contains a pristine melody section reminiscent of the Final Fantasy "crystal" theme, seemingly placating both palates, but those geared towards melody may find it hard to stick with some of the heavier tracks at first (though it's highly worth it to do so). Similarly, those interested in the raucous tones of Periphery's debut album may find satisfaction in the dark and winding riffs and glitchy leads of a track like "Satya's Diary," but be completely turned off by the pop-friendly vocal hooks and piano wisps of album finale "Yellow."

So, no, Wishful Lotus Proof isn't perfect, but it also doesn't have to be. While some wrinkles could do with a little ironing out and there's a little tonal leap between the weighty first half and the comparably airy second half of the album, Zytecki's careful craftsmanship is apparent from the ground up on each track. And while you can't please all of the people all of the time, knocking their socks off when you have their attention definitely isn't a bad approach to take.

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