January 18th, 2024
DÆmons
'Streams Of Variation'
Alright, metalheads and jazz enthusiasts, buckle up for a wild ride through the musical labyrinth that is "Streams of Variation" by the one-man band which is called DÆmons. This isn't just any album; it's like a sonic rollercoaster designed by what you could only call a mad musicial scientist with a penchant for prog-jazz-metal fusion. Released on October 25, 2023, by Face Ripper Records, this album is an auditory spectacle that'll have your ears questioning the fabric of reality.
The only way to do this justice is to complete a track by track review - So get ready to dive into the extraordinary world of
DÆmons, a one-man musical juggernaut hailing from the streets of Ann Arbor, Michigan. At the helm of this audacious project is the multi-talented Steven E. who is not just pushing boundaries — he’s obliterating them.
His latest brainchild, "Streams of Variation", his second album that provides a mosaic of auditory innovation. Prepare to have your musical horizons expanded and your mind thoroughly blown!
"One Step at a Time (Mechanization)" – Here, DÆmons basically says, "You thought the first track was cool? Hold my OTHER beer." This song continues in the same vein as the first but less straight forward and more epic in the vein of...dare I say, Devin Townsend with the soaring vocals and chord progressions. Nice use of synths especially towards the end of the song.
"Buch I: Aller Anfang ist schwer" – This is what happens when jazz and metal decide to have a polite conversation, then suddenly start arm wrestling. It's the first instrumental of the album and it's pretty wacky jazz metal with some good bass runs, plenty of stop/starts and changes to keep you entertained but it really gets going halfway through and ascends towards the end with a beautifully placed solo.
"From Narcissism to Oppression" – A great bass sound snarls and roars from the get go before a banshee like guitar high pitched lead screams in, creating a rich atmosphere with synths and guttural screams. Some clever use of dissonance keys dispersed. And enjoy the swirling repeating solo that feels like you are slowly going insane (in a good way). Also dig the flight of the bumblebee type attack of the guitar combined with a piano section and towards the end we get treated to a solo that meshuggah wished they came up with. Definitely one of the highlight tracks of the album. This track is a testament to Stevens ability as a songwriter.
"Origins of Neglect" – Now for something different. A more experimental track, full of brass, trumpets, cowbell, male/female vocals - you name it, this song has got it. I can now see the Toto reference coming to light but I can see a lot of David Bowie in this track, especially from his last album 'Blackstar'. A good track to focus on the production - everything fits so well, the drums are pristine without being stale and the synths sit well into this wall of sound and give the guitars and bass enough room to maneuver. This is not a run of the mill type production, the production matches what is being played here - it does it's job by evelating the music to a very high elite level of professionalism.
Have a listen to the album below ->
"Psychotropic Trephination" – Meshuggah-like riffs that'll have your head banging so hard, you might need a neck brace afterward. The guitar riffs around the 3 to 4 minute mark really sucks you in. Great low vocals too slam the listener into submission. The song picks up speed towards the end and starts to melt the brain with plenty of blasts and double bass moments.
"Buch II: Anfangen ist einfach" – The second near-instrument of the album (the brief vocals I regard as more almost choral in nature) and starts with an 80s type synthwave and then in pops some very cool fretless bass lines with funky jazz keys cleverly placed throughout. I can hear this being used as a soundtrack to a neon-drenched, retro-futuristic detective TV show, film or game, it should be sent to every game developer and I'm sure one would take heed. Definitely my one of my favourites off this album. Ends with a sublime clean type solo riffing, most excellent - Chef's kiss.
"The Mouths of Deception" – A mind-bending journey into the depths of progressive metal. This track keeps you guessing and dives you ever closer to the downward death-jazz spiral. Some pinch-squeals and slam can be heard in this track although very briefly before descending further into the abyss before taking you back up for a breather with another great solo. This leads into another jazzy type section before bringing you into a clean vocal section and then you free fall into the djent nothingness of despair or should I say the mouths of Deception?
"Menschenskinder Nä" – Another bass intro, another crazy jazzy solo and synth work. The imagination of this one man is breath taking honestly. It's jazz, it's metal, it's everything in between. The song writing is on another level and needs to be applauded. So many twists and turns to keep the listener on their toes. The saxophone solo is well worth the wait, you could also feel it coming up in this track. It's exactly what it needed and it's given enough time to fester and delight the senses.
"Insomnolence" – Here, DÆmons flexes some serious guitar muscle, weaving through intricate melodies with the precision of a brain surgeon on mushrooms. Sliding guitar riffs back up strong screams before singing vocals are introduced. Rapid and smart guitar runs show some real technical prowess and creates a perfect wall of sound. After a clean interlude we hear more soaring guitar solos that have an epic vibe to them. Fantastic synth-scapes form an ambient background and lay the groundwork for intricate guitar solos and riffage.
"Vermillion Sunrise" – A collaboration with Adam Cesarz, this track is like waking up in a sci-fi dream. The sound of a rising wind that is a constant in the background and then singing vocals slowly fade before introducing gentle synth tones, piano, and progressive drumming, and steady guitar chord strumming.
The progressive elements mix with psychedelic vibes to create something otherworldly that remind you of influences stemming from the likes of Karnivool/Tool even a bit of Deftones. It is easy to see "Vermillion Sunrise" why gets a video, it has everything, growls, fry screams, and heavy heavy guitar chugging. With a guitar solo, DÆmons slides back to the progressive sound and then starts to fade out with the previous clean section.
"Buch III: Beharrlichkeit eine Kunst" - A very busy bass line at the start of this song with equally busy dual lead guitar work set the tone for this song. It’s got complex timings, tempo changes, and an overall complicated progressive sound - It's got more layers than a lasagna cooked by a gourmet chef with a PhD in deliciousness. The guitars feel like they have synth effects attached to them in parts akin to epic ambient guitar tones that create a sense of wonder and awe. Some synth distorted leads come into play before powerful low end guitar chugging step into the spotlight. Some quality solos end this instrument with style.
"A Contrast in Reminiscence" – An epic 15-minute journey that's as much a story as it is a song.The first minute or so reminds of Jeff Wayne’s 'War Of The Worlds' with its haunting guitar and atmosphere, was kind of hoping this would continue and evolve but the song quickly breaks into the progressive metal guitar riff style and rugged growls that work in off-timing and tempo changes to create the technically impressive sound we’ve been hearing throughout the album - Nathan Marks' guest vocals add greatly to the intricate tapestry of sound. The song transitions to an excellent vocal hook backed by melodic synths and charming guitar harmonies.
"Perfect Day" – Closing out the album with a cover that's as haunting as it is beautiful. It's like DÆmons took the cover of the original, put it through a kaleidoscope, and reassembled it into something familiar yet entirely new.
Check out their spotify below!
"Streams of Variation" by DÆmons is a mind-bending, genre-defying, ear-tantalizing journey through the realms of progressive jazz metal. Steven E. has crafted a musical experience that's like Toto and Meshuggah had a jam session in the Twilight Zone. I would question the sheer length of this album, an hour and a half is a lot for the modern day listener to absorb and take in, this could have easily been split into 2 albums of 7 tracks. But if you're into music that pushes boundaries, tickles your brain, and sometimes makes you question life, this album is like finding a treasure chest in the attic of the musical universe. Fans of everything from extreme metal to psychedelic prog will find something to love here. So, crank it up, strap in, and let DÆmons take you on a journey through the "Streams of Variation." This isn't just music; it's a full-blown sensory adventure. You can stream their latest album out everywhere now!
Song highlights: "From Narcissism to Oppression" / "Buch II: Anfangen ist einfach" / "Vermillion Sunrise"
