As much as I love progressive metal, I'll admit that many stereotypes have come full circle in modern groups resulting in an unfortunate predictability. While the irony of the musical term "progressive" and "predictable" being sometimes linked together is a pitiful realization, it is equally uplifting when discovering music that reignites the progressive flame with innovation and emotion. In the case of Eccentric Pendulum, their creative approach to the subgenre is undeniably inspiring and forward-thinking.
The Bangalore-based Indian metal act has been melding their progressive, tech-death identity for almost ten years now with The Sculptor of Negative Emotions EP and Winding the Optics album under their belts. The five-piece has won multiple Rolling Stone Metal awards, performed at Wacken Open Air 2011, and toured internationally in Spain, Portugal, France, and Germany.
Vocalist Kaushal LS (Godless, Gutslit, Orchid), guitarists Ankit Suryakanth (Theorized) and Arjun Mulky (Limit Zero), bassist Arun Natarajan, and drummer Vibhas Venkatram now arrive at the next stage in their career where they have without a doubt conjured their magnum opus. Originally conceived by former vocalist Nikhil Vastarey in 2013, Tellurian Concepts is an EP with the intent of being consumed as an 18-minute long song, yet is broken into three parts for clarity.
The EP's opening instrumental "Nil" displays an atmosphere created by samples from Sandesh Nagraj (Extinct Reflections, Syreim, The Replicate) as a calming-warm-up for the ears before diving headfirst into heavy territory for the following two parts. "Accelerated Extinction" and "Contrivance" can be best defined as equally straight-forward and esoteric. While the riffs at first hit you square between the eyes, the piece's gradual evolution makes way for rhythmical and melodic complexity. It should certainly be noted that as many other prog metal artists have aligned to the Meshuggah groove mold, Eccentric Pendulum stray from becoming yet another rip-off and journey down their own path finding more similarities to Cynic, later Death, The Faceless, Textures, and other groups within the Indian metal scene as influence.
Although the band already is rife with talent, they extended their hand to a variety of other unique artists. For the first nine minutes the group remains in tech-death mode, but we find a shift that includes jazz-oriented segments and complex solos from individuals like American jazz-fusion bassist Micheal Manring who lends his signature fretless Hyperbass into the song, providing dynamics and a sense of pacing to the piece. Other guest musicians such as guitarist Tony Das (Bhoomi, Peepal Tree) and saxophonist Bruce Lamont (Yakuza, Corrections House, Bloodiest) are cast into the "Tellurian Concepts" brew. Important contributors also include Colin Marston (Gorguts) to master the EP and artwork by Julius Horsthuis.
Overall, this EP is of serious accomplishment. It brings me joy to know that steps are being made to even further evolve the progressive metal subgenre from on the other side of the globe. Other metal acts like Dream Theater, Sleep, Opeth, Pelican, and more have all successfully delved into the realm of songs far beyond the conventional length and I believe "Tellurian Concepts" is worthy enough to belong beside these greats on the list. To purchase a physical copy or find more info, click here.
