The Continuum Hypothesis

The Continuum Hypothesis

Category: (Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Third effort by this Memphis, Tennessee band. Not only is Epoch Of Unlight continually improving their already intense death/black technical sound, but this time they've managed to weave in more memorable melodic passages as well. One of the top US bands in the genre. "Driven by otherworldly rhythms, progressive death metal guitar lines and Swedish thrash vocals, this band serve as a vortex of all that is intensely creative in the underground realm." - BraveWords.com

Customer Reviews

Deep within the Highgate crypt

Reviewed by Johnny Ryall, 2009-10-08

3rd full-length from this now classic blackened/ death metal assault from Memphis, TN. Musical excellence that is heavily inspired by Dissection & "Heartwork" era Carcass.

awesome album!!

Reviewed by White Recluse, 2009-08-06

great album!! this album has a mix of blast beats complimented by good ol fashioned death metal!! i'm thinking a cross between belphagor and wretched!!

Anyone who criticizes this cd, is not a fan of metal

Reviewed by Andrew Craver, 2009-08-01

Love this Melodic Death Metal Band. All of their stuff is really solid. This album really shows their progression in songwriting and execution. Not as Heavy or brutal as their earlier stuff, but Excellent nonetheless. The Guitar Riffs on this Cd are sooo catchy and cool, they'll be in your head forever. Seriously, Ive had this cd for six months and I still humm their stuff 3 times a week. If you like the idea of Neuraxis Meets Through the Eyes of the Dead, Buy This CD! I couldn't believe it was only a Penny! Get A Clue America!!

Decent Melodic Death Metal

Reviewed by Blaise D. Canfield, 2009-02-09

I'd never heard of Epoch of Unlight, but the CD sounded promising. Besides a little over-ambitions drum work (by which I mean sloppy), the CD is very enjoyable. The band has a good set of well-written songs. Nothing that hasn't been done before, and by no means the best in the genre, but solid and worth listening to.

The Continuum Hypothesis

Reviewed by Murat Batmaz, 2005-03-28

A little online research revealed that The Continuum Hypothesis is Epoch of Unlight's third album. The band has existed in various forms under different names for over 15 years. I haven't heard their previous releases, but The Continuum Hypothesis features new vocalist B.J. Cook (Fallen Empire) who does a fairly good job. The vocals on the album are reminiscent of early 90's Swedish bands playing in a thrash/death style. Comparisons could be drawn to bands like The Haunted and the first Hypocrisy album. Cook mostly screams the lyrics throughout the entire disc -- he has a half-yelling and half-growling kind of delivery. Besides the Swedish screamers, track 8, "Aberrant Shadows", recalls Devin Townsend doing his maniacal high screams over meticulously arranged guitar harmonies. That said, Cook's singing, as the music itself, is a bit one-dimensional, rarely trying something different.

The End Records suggests that Epoch of Unlight is recommended for fans of Kreator, Heartwork-era Carcass, At the Gates and early Dark Tranquillity. Somehow I feel the need to mention references to Lunaris' Cyclic album (without the technical edge) and perhaps Darkane as well. The highlight of the album is, without doubt, drummer Tino LoSicco. LoSicco has written the music and lyrics for all the songs and takes on a definitive role here. The tunes are driven by his pounding rhythm work mixed with odd meters. Joe Totty on bass and Josh Braddock on guitar play around LoSicco's technically challenging drum patterns. The bass is hardly audible, except on the breakdown of the song "Cardinality", which also features an impressive drum solo. Other than that, the bass functions as a complement to the drumming -- it provides a fuller rhythm sound.

Braddock plays raw guitar rhythms, occasionally in a thrash metal vein. There is an excellent riff on "Argentum Era Secui Duos" before the acoustic section that is bound to make you headbang. "Highgate" is a personal favourite because of its dark intro, violent main riff and smooth guitar harmony. There aren't many guitar solos on the CD; but they're far from absent. It's just that Epoch of Unlight impresses more with their subtle rhythm work rather than technically superior instrumental sections.

The one problem with the CD is that it offers little variety. It is pretty straightforward in style; all songs usually start with fierce guitar riffage developed around LoSicco's forceful drum fills and Cook's brutal vocals. Besides the brief bass line on "Quicksilver to Ash" and the acoustic riff on the aforementioned "Argentum Era Secui Duos", all the songs seem standard. They are solid songs, however. Co-produced by noted engineer Erin Farley (Agnostic Front, Overkill), the sound quality is great. Farley also does back vocals on one song. The melodic parts, particularly on "The End of All", really come through displaying an early Dark Tranquillity-ish vocal melody; or the insanely fast double bass drum on "Broken Pendulum" is going to please metalheads for sure. I have to mention that the artwork is the best part of it all though -- an excellent cover art with twisted imagery, lyrics, songcredits and band photo.