In a world where the term "instrumental metal" has become a synonym of "squeezing as many notes and transitions as possible into a 7 minute long composition" it's hard to find bands that defy that formula. When I first listened to Scale The Summit a few years ago I instantly noticed there was more to them than just 4 insanely skilled musicians playing together.
The band has come to describe their sound as "adventure metal" and once you listen to one of their albums from beginning to end it's easy to see why, each of their albums take you on a journey through a myriad of sonic landscapes. But while their previous efforts have had songs ranging from dark, heavy, intense metal to more laid back, calm and jazzy compositions, The Migration narrows the scope a little, and not always for the best.
Through the album does a flawless job at making you feel like you are running under a cloudless sky in a cool day with the sun hitting your face, it sometimes feel like the album could benefit from a little variety. In this regard it's good that it clocks at 42 minutes, because it's an adequate ammount of time for the scope of the album.
The Migration also starts in the same way as it ends, with two fast, lush and busy songs, and it's very difficult (if not impossible) to find a point in the record that could be described as a climax. The only one that strays a little from the lively sound of the album is "The Dark Horse" which lives up to it's name from beginning to end.
All in all, these things don't stop Scale The Summit's fourth record from being a breath of fresh air in the progressive metal scene, the skill and vision of their members is beyond question and there's no doubt The Migration sounds exactly as they intended, from the sunny landscapes it paints to the way the two guitars interwine constantly, it's evident that every note has been put there deliberately. Overall, a carefully crafted and solid record that struggles to achieve the scope of it's predecessors.
7.5/10
