In The Presence Of Wolves "Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2 - The Ape And The Cage"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Alternative Progressive Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: June 30, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. As We Speak, Pt. 1 (3:40)
2. The One Who Fell To Earth (4:46)
3. White Noise (6:43)
4. The Ape And The Cage (9:43)
5. M.U.A. (Manipulation Under Anesthesia) (7:56)

Total Time 32:48

Line-up: 
Chris Capitanio - Guitars, Vocals
Jim Ellis - Guitars
Vini Stamato - Bass, Vocals
Mason Ingling - Drums, Vocals

Description/Reviews: 

IN THE PRESENCE OF WOLVES further improves upon their addictive auditory blend with their upcoming EP, Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and The Cage, a conceptual offering all its own. The EP’s auditory assault reaches far beyond the confines of ITPOW’s experimental predecessors—plainly inspired by the piercing vocal attacks, tasteful theatricality and frantic musical kaleidoscopes pioneered by artists like Rush, Coheed and Cambria, Queen, The Mars Volta and Between The Buried And Me—leaving the listener with something overtly inspired yet fresh and uncharted.
...Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and The Cage stretches the musical confines of cognitive dissonance personified—chaotic, disturbed, enlightened and energized. Kicking off with a stripped-down, dramatic, retro-inspired introduction track, Of Two Minds… wastes no time soaring into an experimental rock adventure—shifting gracefully from dynamic, emotional passages to borderline aggressive turbulence.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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In The Presence Of Wolves "Thalassas"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Alternative Progressive Rock/Metal
Format: CD
Release date: December 2, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Man of the Times 07:50
2. Storm in a Red Dress 04:18
3. Hypoxia 07:00
4. Palladium 08:02
5. Birdsong 02:58
6. Thalassas I: The Careless Abandon 05:10
7. Thalassas II: What Dwells Below (The Portal) 03:41
8. Thalassas III: Back to the Surface 06:07

Line-up: 
Vini Stamato - Bass, Vocals
Chris Capitanio - Guitar, Vocals
Justin Alexander - Guitar, Vocals
Mason Ingling - Drums, Vocals
     With:
Geoff Langley (The Twenty Committee) - Keyboards and synth

Description/Reviews: 

“Man of the Times” enters with strong, syncopated hits, channeling Porcupine Tree/Stephen Wilson for this start-and-stop introduction.  The band collectively provide strong vocal harmonies behind Vini’s ragged singing.  I particularly love the closely partnered roles Justin and Chris play throughout this track: jamming in thick, power-metal unison, and ascending together in riffs that are both harmonic and dissonant.  The fact that the band employs two guitarists isn’t simply an attempt to “beef up” their sound: both axes are part of ITPOW’s sum total arsenal, and are used throughout Thalassas to maximum effectiveness.  “Man of the Times” moves through a veritable metronome of meter changes and time signatures – variations of 6/8, 5/4, 7/8, and the occasional 4/4 throughout its 7:51-minute duration.  Chris’ solo at the conclusion is as polished, intense, and succinct as any veteran’s.

 Read the full review by Justin Carlton at tollbooth.org

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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