Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Letallis - mesmerized lullabies of the crescent moon nights

Letallis (2005-present) is prog death from New York-New Jersey, U.S. Their 2024 EP is called A Thousand and One Nights - Chapter 1. It is five tracks in 26 minutes. The quality of the songwriting makes it clear that prog is an important foundation of the music, but there is plenty of melody to keep listeners interested. The prog elements are not the only interesting aspect, as there is a certain Middle Eastern vibe going on, in a proportional way, not overdone. It sounds like prog death with a bit of a different vibe. For instance, this is not folk metal nor is this anything like Middle Eastern/Mesopotamian or ancient Egyptian-styled metal. There is growling and singing. There are heavy parts and softer moments. There are extended, slower guitar melodies, in addition to faster riffing and pounding drumming.
It looks like the band may have had some trouble because, according to Metal Archives, there was an album in 2008 and another one in 2014, but nothing else between 2014 and 2024. I have not studied the history of the band. I am not sure that I have even heard their older music. Nevertheless, as far as the 2024 music goes, I feel like fans of prog-extreme styles may find quite a bit of satisfaction in the approach to the songwriting and the skill level of the musicianship. You don't need a calculator to enjoy this music, but you need to listen in a more attentive way. There is enough going on that the “autopilot listen” mode might not be enough to hear the music for what it is.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.