Customer Reviews

Design

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As is so often the case, the truth about Into the Moat lies somewhere in between what the varying factions claim. In short, they do sound quite a lot like The Dillinger Escape Plan, but they should hardly be slagged off as nothing but mere pretenders. What it comes down to is this: Into the Moat are a tech-metalcore band, and The Dillinger Escape Plan's 'Calculating Infinity' is pretty much the definitive and best known tech-metalcore album. Complaining about them as DEP knockoffs makes about as much sense as saying that every thrash band is just a Metallica ripoff. (Still, that whole it's like comparing Megadeth to Morbid Angel thing that other guy said is way over selling the point. They're pretty damn similar, and occupy the same basic niche, unlike those two bands.)

That said, this is definitely metalcore, not death metal. Honestly, the division between tech-core and tech-death is usually pretty damn superficial, but in these superficial ways, (vox, guitar tone etc.) they lean more towards the core stuff. Still, it's got some death metal flavor to it, and it's more serious and straight forward than lots of tech-core. The jazz influence is massive, with quite a few softer jazz interludes and tons of sharp, jazz licks throughout the heavier parts (In this way, they remind me a lot of Psyopus. I'd say this comparison is more relevant than the DEP one, as they tend to come across as a slightly conventionalized, more bruising Psyopus.) Tempo and time changes abound, naturally, though they actually like to slow it down a bit more than most bands of this sort. This doesn't cut down on the technicality, however, they just make the slow parts all the more ridiculous and nasty, and particularly love the whole sudden alternation between ultra slow grooves and blast beats. Overall, this is some very, very complicated stuff, even by the standards of the genre. The guitar tone is somewhat bassier, more deathy than your usual metalcore band, though it's not at all messy, particularly in the higher parts which are extremely sharp and clear. And, overall, the feel and songwriting of the band are just a bit more, well, rockin' than you'd here from Psyopus or DEP, which tend to be more of a blur. The vocals, ehh, they might as well not be there. Two voices, one which is total metalcore, the other could pass itself of as either core or death. (Though I'd say it leans slightly towards metalcore, overall.) There are no particularly interesting vocal lines, nor is anything catchy, but this is pretty much par the course for this kind of music.

The tracks do tend to blend together a bit, but it's all exciting enough while you're listening to it that this isn't too much of a caveat. Suffice to say, I can't imagine any reason why tech-metal fans wouldn't like this.

If you are a fan of uncontrollable, fast, but intelligent music this album is what you are looking for. This is The Dillinger Escape Plan meets From A Second Story Window. They combine DEP's over the top, complex, technical, and unpredictable song writting formula and merge it with FASSW's brutality. This album has incredible diversity and will impress almost anyone, who likes off beat music. These guys are not perfect though. They sometimes feel a little flat. This album is like a slightly old coke. Semi flat, but still refreshing and fizzy enough. Before you buy it I advise you to listen to some of the full songs. Check out thier Myspace & Purevolume. If you like what you hear, I highly advise you buy this.

Into The Moat. Where do you begin to describe such a band? First off, while I don't like to categorize bands, I will do so for the sake of the consumer who has not yet heard ITM. Technical metal with slight death-metal influences, and moderate jazz influences.

"The Design" is a technical masterpiece with expert production quality and even better musicianship. Any musician will truly appreciate the exquisite instrumentation from musicians who refuse to limit themselves. This is not to say that you have to be a musician to enjoy this album, you just might enjoy it more if you are.

Throughout "The Design" there are constant changes of not only tempo and time signature, but how the music is played within those time signatures. What is not expected, but enjoyed immensely, are the jazz influences within the album. You can't listen for very long before hearing a jazz breakdown somewhere, or a guitar riff that borrows heavily from jazz music. The only thing consistent about the tempos on this album is that they are constantly shifting. Not only do ITM play speedier tempos, but they know how to slow it down as well. That is not to say that this album is soft, maybe at times atmospheric, but never soft!

The production quality of the album is top notch, and all the instruments are crisp and easy to distinguish in the mix. The guitar has a clarity of tone owing to a nice medium-heavy distortion not too heavy on the bass, and riffs that involve more than just chugging along the lowest notes of the fretboard. The vocals are good, with the vocalist utilizing two somewhat similar styles of screaming. There is his medium depth scream, which is not quite a growl, but has nice lower qualities too it, and a scream that is slightly higher in pitch than the first, but not quite as high as a shriek. Nowhere in either of ITM's records will you find singing.

The drumming is superb and, I believe, the highlight of the album! Being that I myself am a drummer, my opinion may be somewhat biased, though I try to remain objective. Matthew Gossman weaves his way through the maze that is "The Design" with an experts touch, creating pulsating rhythm's with intensity, groove, and, when called for: blast beats! Double bass is executely tastefully, and never monotonous. While he won't win any speed records soon, not to say he doesn't go fast when necessary, his strength lies in his creativity of play within odd time-signatures and syncopated rhythms!

One of the nicest things about ITM's "The Design" is that, while the music is busy, it is never overdone. This is, in a genre that can often mistake how much you play for how well you play, actually quite refreshing! There are never ridiculous quitar solo's played atop seemingly never ending blast beats that compete against each other rather than play with each other! ITM understand that just as much can be said with what you don't play, as with what you do play.

Having said all this, my one complaint- which in reality is a compliment- is that the album is too short. With nine songs clocking in just under thirty-three mintues, the experience seems to be over just as it begun. Despite that, this album is an album that you will experience over and over, and each time you will walk away with something new!

Are you a fan of technical metal bands like Necrophagist and Meshuggah? Do you also like bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan and Converge? Look no further, because Into The Moat may be your new favorite band. This CD has some of the best and talented guitar leads for a technical metal band. A few jazz moments are thrown in as well ("Dead Before I Stray", "None Shall Pass"), and the music itself, you can't predict what's coming next. It's amazing and pure bliss that refuses to sound generic and will be a landmark. Worth your cash.

Ok, maybe not exactly but his expertise in all things metal definitely lends a hand to bands in need, for example: Into the Moat. Rutan is an ultra technical producer and his brutal style complements ITM's style on this disc. Call it math/calculus/calculuscore/tech or whatever kind of metal sub-genre you want but its hard to listen to for long periods of time unless you're a jazz musician. This isn't to say that I don't like it. Its good, aggressive, war-themed music (nothing like Bolt Thrower other than that they both depict being in battle). Its similar to some bands but not the ones mentioned in other reviews. They're a good band that is very good at what they do and deserve respect for it. If you like very technical metal with very little melody but with all the precision of a X-acto blade then this could be what you're looking for. It beats the hell out of Ashley Simpson.

This band is purley amazing. The drumming and the guitarist are amazing. The vocals are also excellent. The guitarist is actually my guitar teacher and I find it an honor to be taught by him. Get this cd instantley you won't regret it!!!

Since the first time I heard this album back in the spring of 2005, it has been my favorite CD. From the ominous intro into Empty Shell through all of the relentless polyrhythms and beyond, I was completely enthralled by the sheer power of both the tone and the composition. If you like predictable music that "flows," then DON'T listen to this album - it's full of mind-blowing twists and turns and changes that will keep you in a constant state of awe while maintaing clear allegiance to the emotion of power throughout. This is serious music - not the playful multi-stylism of the Dillinger Escape Plan. My only complaint is the synth-strings outro at the end of the last track - I usually skip that. Otherwise a solid album, not to mention a first full-length release. If you like Ion Dissonance, then you may love this - and if you love this, then make sure to check out the group Ion Dissonance.

Into The Moat really push the envelope with the release of "the design". You will be glued to your stereo with no idea of what is to come next and as soon as you turn to your friend and say "damn that's pissed" the breakdown will drop down one step and so will your jaw. I can go on and on but words can't describe how good this cd is you have to experience it for your self. So scrape up some change and go pick this cd up.

INTO THE MOAT - The Design
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This album is basically taking off where Dillinger's, Calculating Infinity left off. For fans of DEP that may have been disappoint with Miss Machine, this album should be what you are looking for. Despite their obvious influence of DEP they truly have put the right foot forward in developing a sound of their own. Into the Moat seems to be a band that knows their limits... Any time they get close to pushing the limit to obscurity they will add in some jazzy fusion riff. Musically they are very tight. The drum work is initially what caught my attention. Guitars and Bass seem pretty standard for start/stop tech metal. Vocally it is well driven. Definite older hardcore feel... Perfectly suited for the genre... However I would like to hear some more "talking" Spoken word style vocals.
All in all this album is really quite good for the over-saturation of Tech/Math-Metal which is beginning to plague the scene.
Favorite Songs: Empty Shell, Guardian.
4.0 - Stars

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A friend handed me this album. Upon first listen, I thought of The Red Chord and Alaska-era Between the Buried and Me. Many reviews relate this to Dillinger Escape Plan, but I'm not familiar with them. This combines great vocals and guitar work with heavy breakdowns. There are a lot of changes through out and the technicality of the drumming reminds one of groups like Cephallic Carnage. There are even some little jazzy guitar and bass parts that happen from time to time. I give it all 5 stars simply because it does very well in upholding this style of metal, while at the same time keeping it fresh and different.