Collapsar. A collapsed star, a black hole with a negative force so strong that not even light can escape. Much like it's namesake, this trio from Lafeyette, Lousiana emit a crushing, cosmic gravity, through hyperintricate, dizzying soundtrack Metal compositions that sound like they were scored in some alien code. Collapsar rose from the ashes of the little-known but amazing progressive tech-metal outfit Icepick Revival, and takes the complex linear riffs and winding mathematical rhythms of their former band and transmutates them into a mammoth fusion of deep-space psychedelic speed metal, progressive rock, jazz, and math rock. Guitarists Adam Harris and Stephen Sheppert move as one, their constantly shifting riffs and nimble fretboard shreddery merging together as drummer Brett Judice deftly navigates the unpredictable architecture and heavy textures created by the guitars. I didn't even realize the band didn't include a bass player until I looked over the album notes; the guitar interplay is so massive that the low end is more than filled. And the solos on this album...holy shit. These guys whip out some of the most amazing, epic solos ever, like Death Angel in deep space! The eight songs on their eponymous debut have a celestial, darkly mythic feel, with loads of cosmic synthesizer effects and utterly majestic melodic hooks, brutal convoluted riffing contrasting with gentle, gorgeous indie-rock phrases, equal parts Rush and Dazzling Killmen, Fucking Champs and King Crimson, insane jazz chops and old school thrash and speed metal riffing, the trio behind the wheel of advanced time-space technology and shooting across the cosmos. With this amazing album, Collapsar are firmly situated at the top of the list of heavy instrumental outfits, and deliver some of the most memorable, mindblowing prog-metal we've ever heard. Needless to say, this is highly recommended, especially to those into hyper-complex, epic instrumental space-prog metal ! Comes in a sleek gatefold digipack with black and metallic silver printing, the band logo is emblazoned across the front cover with a metallic silver foil inlay, and the disc is housed inside a small color sleeve within one of the digipack panels, totally gorgeous to look at/handle/devour.