CONTINUUM - The Hypothesis
June 9, 2015, 8 years ago
(Unique Leader)
California tech-deathsters Continuum have a hat trick of technical ecstasy right off the bat: this debut album is on Unique Leader; the band is led by Chase Fraser of Decrepit Birth and Animosity; the lyrical concept revolves around math, for crying out loud. So, yeah, immediately give this attention, because it deserves it, the album being a 31-minute feast of swirling modern tech-death, riffs just going and going and going, this stuff making Origin look positively rookie in comparison. Unlike some tech DM bands, though, Continuum don't just chase their tail endlessly and needlessly; don't get me wrong, there isn't a goddamn song to be found on this thing, but you can at least tap your foot to it.
It still hits hard like the best DM does, and it still provides that adrenaline rush that the best tech-death does. And with that wise brief running time, when it's over, you just kinda think, I feel alive, and, damn, maybe tech-death isn't dead after all. And if all those short blasts of ferocity that make up the first two-thirds of the album don't convince you of that, check out awesome slow-burning nine-minute closer "Steppes To Ascension" for the definitive proof; this song rules.
