Live4Metal

Ecdysis is the debut effort from darsombra, the solo project of Meatjack vocalist/guitarist Brian Daniloski. "The act of molting or shedding an outer cuticular layer," according to Merriam-Webster, the album title offers an accurate description of what lies in store. Feedback slowly creeps up into the speakers until a high-pitched guitar lick signals the rally, introducing the screams of a domestic dispute, ominous organ patterns and a tidal wave of guitar. Disc opener "Thinning the Herd" bleeds into "The Place Where There Is No Darkness," an atmosphere built upon eerie sustained synths tones, bass feedback and extraterrestrial, echo-drenched guitar sounds. This bleak beginning warms with "My House," which adds a plodding 4/4 drum machine beat to the mix behind a molten sliding guitar riff, twinkling ambient loop, sitar lead and some heavily filtered vocals. The most accessible of the six tracks, aside from a fitting "Dies Irae" cover; "My House" wouldn't be out of place on a Nine Inch Nails record. Dark, feedback-driven ambience returns on "Drag the Carcass," which features an excited "Hallelujah!" preacher eulogizing about being saved and "baptized in the name of Jesus." A spiraling guitar lick enters mid-sermon, intensifying the damnation factor and ludicrous urgency of the pastor. darsombra's almost entirely instrumental effort, succeeds on the strength of Daniloski's creative guitar playing and strong composition, making Ecdysis a true experimentation in sound and tonality, not song structure. It's a totally different animal, but I wouldn't mind if Meatjack stayed on the backburner a bit longer to hear more from this side of Daniloski's brain.

Natasha Padilla