With the Progressive and Tech Metal climate being so crowded and, at times, stagnant, any new breed of band has the unenviable task of trying to stand out from the hordes by bringing in any resemblance of freshness or innovation. Whilst there is undoubtedly an abundance of quality talents out there, all too often acts fail to leave much of an impression in comparison to many of their peers.

For newcomers Letters From The Colony, the road to their debut release has proven long and, at times, arduous with a couple of well-received EP releases in a seven-year stretch that also includes numerous line-up shuffles. With their debut full length finally about to be unleashed, Vignette (Nuclear Blast) shows that, where LFTC may lack in originality to their sound, their ability and method makes up the deficit.

Cursory listens to Vignette show the ever-familiar Meshuggah worship that, nowadays, every band and their dogs have, with polyrhythms and that all too common guitar tone. Even Alexander Backlund’s vocals sounding eerily similar to Jens Kidman. Early impressions aside, at least within these all too common parameters Letters From The Colony excel, such as on the immediate ‘Erasing Contract’.

Yet it is when you scratch beneath this surface that Vignette reveals further intricacies and depth.

At first, the serene opening of ‘Galax’ could be written off as a cliched atmospheric introduction, yet in hindsight, it highlights a more Prog-orientated streak. Elsewhere there are complex and dynamic arrangements and a vibrant array of styles at work, from the Math Metal controlled chaos of ‘Cataclysm’ to the slow pummelling of ‘Terminus’ with even the melodic, anthemic yet crushing Death Metal stylings of In Flames in the mix.

That it takes repeated listens to fully grasp many of these pieces shows how seamlessly they tie in throughout, and whilst much of there is clear signposting to influences the way they are brought together shows a maturity and a level of songwriting above many of their peers, and the promise created by their EP’s well and truly realized. Whilst there is still some room to grow and properly establish their own identity, this is an impressive debut that should put them on the map.

7.0/10

CHRIS TIPPELL