CLOUDKICKER — The Map is Not the Territory (review)

CLOUDKICKER — The Map is Not the Territory album cover EP · 2009 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Conor Fynes
'The Map Is Not The Territory' - Cloudkicker (6/10)

Returning again for another dose of rhythmic madness, Cloudkicker's Ben Sharp gives us 'The Map Is Not The Territory,' a logical extension of his first album that continues his impressive legacy of mathematically geared metal, albeit with less sucess than with the debut.

With this, first 'shorter' release of Cloudkicker's career, the rhythmic energy and finesse that made 'The Discovery' such a dazzling album is still here, but it still feels less engaging than before. Perhaps this is the result of the fact that there is little here to distinguish 'Map' from it's predecessor, or simply because of a lack of overall cohesion in the EP. In any case, alot of the beauty and melodic charm that Cloudkicker burst out onto the scene with doesn't seem to be here in such high esteem. Regardless of that, the technicality and heavier aspect of the project's music is still here in full.

For those who aren't familiar with the work of Cloudkicker, it is essentially a man that independently releases (and independently performs) math metal of epic proportions, much in the vein of Meshuggah. Unlike Meshuggah however, there are no harsh vocals to distract us from the instrumental proficiency, and hints of post-rock and atmosphere to give the music the added vibrance. While this might not sound like a formula for emotion, Ben Sharp does manage to throw in hints of feeling in there with the mechanical aggression. Such is demonstrated in the more subdued parts of his music. In 'Maps,' quite possibly the best example of this is at the very end of the EP with about two minutes left in 'Ever Thus To Deadbeats' (possibly the most involved track on the release) in which the percussive heaviness abates to make way for a moment of sombre aural tranquility before a breathtaking finale. If the rest of the album could have only reached the potential of the last two minutes, it would have even topped 'The Discovery.'

Luckily, many of the problems of 'The Map Is Not The Territory' would be solved in the successor, 'Portmanteau.' However, this stands as being a pretty good piece of work, even if it it's a bit too dry for it's own good.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed