Review Summary: 2000s metalcore meets modern djent.
Clayton King is the new kid on the block when it comes to instrumental djent music. The man has redefined the genre yet again with his very distinct approach to riffs and production techniques. Instrumental djent has hit a bit of a dry spell in recent years, but King is definitely freshening this up quite a bit.
On his track
Equivalent Exchange, it displays the guitarist going all out on the riffage above all else. It's great to hear an instrumental djent track with such an intense focus on those nasty riffs without much reprieve. Instrumental djent will commonly utilize a lot of lead guitar work to balance out those beastly riffs with some contrasting melodies. But what this often does is take away from the intensity of the track.
Equivalent Exchange doesn't have this problem. Because it never veers from this unrelenting force, it's perfect for fans of djent who want nothing but high-octane riffage.
What helps is King's unique style to djent riffage. It feels like a nice hybrid between those classic 2000s metalcore riffs and modern djent. Those 2000s riffs where all the craze for a reason. Those triad note scales always deliver this feeling of utter-badassery, like you can take on anything as you listen. This melodic death metal inspired guitar technique is what King utilizes so well. The riffs are delivered with such power that it's impossible to ignore.
A lot of these riffs are pretty Berried Alive esque. In that, the riffs will be focused on those open note chugging grooves, and the notes in between will utilize the entire length of the fretboard however they see fit. Some of those notes will include a rapid high note run followed by a whammy flutter. A whammy flutter is when the guitarist plays a note and then flicks the whammy bar quickly to create an alien-like sound. Then, the guitarist may include a tapping run after that. The note choices almost seem random at first glance, but they are all carefully placed. This chaotic riffing style conjures a massive sense of urgency that demands your attention.
While the track doesn't have the most lead guitar work, it does include more melodic sections that will act as the chorus-like segment to the song. These melodic parts add a great sense of coherency to the track. Because of these more simple melodic parts, the structure doesn't feel random; instead, things feel very structured. These melodies deliver a great sense of grandeur that's made possible through the very finely tuned production value.
This production contains a huge sense of punch from the drums. These drums really complement the intensity of the guitar riffs perfectly. There's also a sort of stuttering post-production technique that makes it feel like the song is about to combust at the seams. These techniques just add to the sheer excitement of the track.
Equivalent Exchange is perfect for those who enjoy an onslaught of djent riffage, but with that 2000s metalcore bite that the sound is so known for.
