The New Scheme

Ecdysis is the first release to come out of this side project from Brian Daniloski, who also plays in Baltimore natives Meatjack. Not unlike recent releases from Jesu and Boris' collaboration with Merzbow, this is a combination of noisy, eclectic, slow motion metal and an even heavier traditional drone record. "Thinning The Herd" opens the record, and uses haunting (but still almost melodic) drones with equally unsettling keyboard track. It is a great introduction to the record, though at just under seven and a half minutes it's more than just an introduction. The most interesting song here, and also the one that moves the fastest (though that's pretty relative here) is "My House." It uses a slow, persistent drum part with a number of textured drones and sitar of all things to really top it off. The result is the most effective and varied track here in a lot of ways and it makes a perfect middle point for Ecdysis. From beginning to end, this is consistently both relaxing and sort of unsettling at the same time. In a lot of ways, that's what the best slow, instrumental drone/metal records aim to accomplish and Daniloski has pulled it off on his first solo release. Fans of anyone mentioned above, or the more spacey Sunno)) or Pelican material should take note.