Review Summary: Blotted Science balance near-perfectly between “random” and “organized” musical instrument shredding.
The realm of insects has always been an intriguing site for observation, from the very first day that humans laid their eyes onto them. The complex social patterns of migration and communication which exist within the myriads of their distinctive species is currently a subject of intense scientific research for an extremely diverse spectrum of physical and social sciences, ranging from Anthropology to Biology to Mathematics/Optimization. In fact, mathematicians were deeply inspired by the way information is being propagated within the communities of insects such as ants or bees, so as to invent bio-inspired optimization algorithms that simulate these mechanisms of information propagation among insects, in order to solve increasingly complex real-world problems of engineering, financial or social interest.
Baring the aforementioned in mind, it is really not such a big surprise that Ron Jarzombek decided, with his turn, to draw inspiration from the motion of insects for the new Blotted Science EP, named after the explicative title
The Animation of Entomology and decorated with the appropriately fitting cover artwork. The surprise is that, in
The Animation of Entomology, Blotted Science manage to maintain a near-perfect balance between “random” musical instrument shredding (“A Sting Operation” song series) and “organized” song structures (first three songs), with the latter part being quite memorable after repeated listens. In that way, the band succeeds in pleasing their respective fan base who like both or just one of the two aforementioned song writing trends. The extreme metal influences (prog thrash/death in the vein of bands like Mekong Delta, Cynic, Death and Meshuggah) are manifested from both the insane rhythm section of Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) and Hannes Grossmann (Obscura) and the equally demented lead/rhythm guitar riffs and keyboards of Ron Jarzombek. Needless to say, the sound production is stellar, although the rhythm guitars could use the extra volume.
With
The Animation of Entomology, Blotted Science continue to excel in their craft, while they project the complex nature of their music to similar events and phenomena occurring in nature. Aside from being a fantastic soundtrack for the observation of insects, this EP is more food on the table for the fans that just can’t get enough off their extreme prog metal.
