CROSSING THE RUBICON - Eclipse

CROSSING THE RUBICON

EP: Eclipse

Genre: Instrumental Progmetal

Release Date: October 27th, 2023

Country: USA

Label: The Sonarc Production Company

Band Links: WEBSITE / BANDCAMP / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK

Since its inception in 2011 by multi-instrumentalist Alejandro Licano as his creative outlet, instrumental progmetal project CROSSING THE RUBICON saw several line-up changes, and currently also features bassist Zach McDermott and Manuel Trabucco on saxophone. Their new EP “Eclipse” lines up in an already impressive back-catalogue and continues the story of their main character's arc from earlier releases (which is also supposed to be expanded on an upcoming graphic novel).

Music-wise, they offer a high-energetic mix of modern, djent-driven rhythms and heavy riffs in combination with sighing, sometimes crazy saxophone interplays. While "Rift" and "Liminal" are more like a kind of experimental, atmospheric soundscape, "Rite of Passage" and "Eclipse" come along as mighty, yet groovy progmetal tracks with mind blowing guitar work and jazzy sax solos. The melody on "Coalesce" gives me some 80s vibes, but the underlying rhythmic and shredding are clearly rooted into contemporary metal. Our short, but intense journey already ends with "Totality", a mesmerizing, piano and keyboard-centered piece, leaving me curious to hear what is yet to come from these guys.

Written by Katha (originally for The Progspace)