(c) Chris Joao
Run with their sophisticated prog and tech sound, which is primarily dedicated to more extreme metal realms Exist always open doors. While “Egoiista” relied on expansive conceptual art in late summer 2020, the US quartet is now looking for a breath of fresh air, not least with the addition of guitarist and synth expert Charles Eron. That’s how you want it „Hijacking The Zeitgeist“ also dedicate themselves to complex, technically demanding extremes and dense atmospheres, but force them into much more compact arrangements.
The fact that a song like the opener “Blue Light Infinite” is completed in under four minutes would never have happened before. In fact, everything has been said in this relatively short time, from the initial Sturm und Drang with deadly force to the intricate rhythm in between to the catchy, almost heavenly melodies as the little icing on the cake. The oppressive “A Path To Nowhere” literally explodes out of the speakers, suggests an oversized bulwark and is initially dedicated to a martial groove. The leaden heaviness of being is good, especially when feverish vocals emerge again and again, only to be constantly led back into sci-fi neckbreaker parts – what a blast.
In the title song, however, the well-known jazz-metal sounds come through, always a little off the rhythm and packing a powerful punch with their short, djent-like discharges. The song constantly sways back and forth, constantly turning the clock completely, but at the same time skilfully resting within itself. Several subtle breaks rely on atmosphere and melodic impulses before the anthemic fanfare threatens to escalate in the final part. “Window To The All”, the muscle-bound bouncer who throws himself onto an imaginary dulcimer again and again and packs classic prog ideas in the midst of brutal extremes, is also likeable. This shouldn’t actually work.
But it does, and sets the pace for this album. Exist aren’t suddenly a completely different band, but they do an incredibly good job of expressing their ideas in a much more focused and precise way. “Hijacking The Zeitgeist” is a logical development and a new little highlight in equal parts, combining the quartet’s creative strengths more than skillfully and yet making no concessions whatsoever when it comes to the extreme weirdness of their sound. Exist remain tech-prog masters of furious heaviness, boast more intense atmosphere and manage incredibly well to direct their ideas into orderly, rousing channels. In the future, they will have to be measured against this short, crisp, technically adept powerhouse.
Rating: 9/10
Available from: April 12, 2024
Available via: Prosthetic Records
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Exist
Slider-Pic (c) Chris Joao
Category: Magazin, Reviews