Carving Desert Canyons

Scale the Summit | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 17, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Prosthetic Records
• ASIN: B001MDH5MK
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,713 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 release. Scale The Summit can be perceived as many things: young, skilled, ambitious, progressive, instrumental, and unique among many other perceptions. Conceived from the imagination and talent of Chris and Travis, the Los Angeles, CA founded band was born in late 2004. The four-piece band emantes an unparalleled musical chemistry including symphonious guitar playing, dynamic bass, and thundering percussion. With solid live performances and a fan following that only shadows the many possibilities and opportunities to come for this band. Scale The Summit has set it's mark to enrapture worldwide audiences with their Prosthetic Records debut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to listen over and over and over!, October 5, 2009

By 

Mike H (Woodbridge, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carving Desert Canyons (Audio CD)

I first encountered Scale the Summit when they opened for Dream Theater in Prog Nation. I was extremely impressed by their musicianship, but it seemed like there was way too much going on in their songs - I didn't really get it. But now I do! You have to listen a few times to let the intricacy of this music really sink in. Scale the Summit has really achieved something great here - instead of pointless noodling like prog/technical bands are apt to do, all of the vast quantities of notes on this record actually have a purpose and meaning in the song. The songs ebb and flow, have interesting little tangents, build up to epic refrains, go into headbanging grooves, and of course have lots of technical wizardry for those of us who geek out about that. But most importantly these songs have vision - Scale the Summit is saying something with their music. It sounds to me like they're channeling some of the grandiosity and complexity of nature. Maybe that's why its called Carving Desert Canyons? If you like epic, uplifting, relaxing, complex, heavy, powerful music you should give this band a chance!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intricate, muscular and energetic, August 24, 2009

By 

Perry Marshall (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carving Desert Canyons (Audio CD)

I heard Scale The Summit at Dream Theater's Chicago 2009 show and these guys delivered a rock-solid performance that displays originality and tremendous drive. They are definitely fit for the honor of playing for Mike Portnoy's audience.

To my ear Scale The Summit sounds like a cross between Liquid Tension Experiment and California Guitar Trio, punctuated with occasional reminders of Rush. But comparisons fall short, because even at this early stage they have clearly found their voice and it is distinctive. I purchased their CD at the concert last night and I'm listening to it for the third time today - not something I often do. The feeling they project is not so much that they take themselves seriously, but that they take their *musical task* seriously.

Some may say that great prog rock is the domain of an older school of musicians, but this album is proof of a new generation with great chops and strong compositions. Excellent work, gentlemen.

Perry Marshall

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive!!, March 29, 2009

By 

T-mo (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carving Desert Canyons (Audio CD)

This album is full instrumental, very heavy, progressive and "cheerful" as opposed to dark or eerie a lot of prog bands sound today. There are some guitar sections that sound like Dream Theater.

However, it's not as chaotic and intense as DT or Ron Jarzombek works. This of course could be a plus to some people. Also they tend to repeat the same patterns or melodies one too many times and I feel most of the songs are a bit longer than they should be.

But still, I'd love to hear more from these guys since how technical they are and I'm looking forward to their future releases.