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| PsyopusIdeas of Reference2004 Black Market Activities 
  Review by: FortyMinutesWest See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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 Published on June 1st 2004 Wow. That's really all I need to say about this one. Black Market Activities has a mixed bag, some bands are solid, like From A Second Story Window, some are terrible, like Found Dead Hanging, but this time they've definitely hit a home run. Rochester's Psyopus have crafted an impressive album with "Ideas of Reference," one that should garner them loads of attention in the future. I won't lie, when I read the press release for this album I was expecting another Dillinger Escape Plan clone. Most of the time, I'll hear of a band like this, and people will gush with superlatives. However, a lot of these bands, while being excellent musicians, can't seem to write coherent songs. The tech metal parts are impressive, but the songs simply don't flow. Psyopus is different, their songs are complex and chaotic, but none of it sounds forced and each piece fits together brilliantly. Like the Dillinger Escape Plan, jazz plays a major part in Psyopus' sound, but to simply toss them in a pile of sound alikes would be unfair. The guitar on this album is absolutely ridiculous, with each riff I could only say to myself "ok, they can't push the bounds any further," but I only found myself being even more impressed a few minutes later. The drumming is on a level entirely its own; Greg Herman shifts effortlessly between double bass rolls, blast beats, and just about every other trick in the book. It's hard to imagine that anyone could keep up with the insane pace of this music, but Herman's inhuman drumming skills more than fit the bill. Musically, the band shifts between dual guitar riffing, frantic scaling, and some odd, soft parts that resemble nintendo music. But this band is more than a chance for each of the members to show off their talent. If these guys were just being technical for the sake of being technical, this album might have seemed forced, but each song is well constructed and never lacks intensity. This band triumphs where others have failed because they believe in what they're doing.
As much as I hate to say it, especially this early, this is already a strong candidate for album of the year. While I wouldn't call it another "Calculating Infinity" this album blows the pretenders and cheap imitations away. Fans of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Daughters, and Creation is Crucifixion should give this a listen. But don't think this band is simply ripping off their contemporaries, because they're doing their own thing. If you want to hear a band playing technical, challenging music that isn't simply going through the motions, check out Psyopus. I find it hard to believe that this band hasn't garnered much, if any attention as of yet. I'm guessing that this release will open a lot of peoples eyes to just how impressive this band really is. How are they going to follow this one up?
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Oh my fucking god, Psyopus are amazing. Ideas of Reference is really good but I have to go with Our Puzzling Encounters Considered to be their best album. These guys kick ass. Christopher Arp (the guitarist) is so talented. Its insane how he plays the guitar. I really want to see them live. This album has broken new ground for tech metal . It's very loose and chaotic. probably the most complex chaos ever recorded so far. Anyone that disses this album truly knows nothing about tech-metal and death-jazz. Athiest was the first death-jazz band and one of the only so far. Psyopus has arangements similar to Athiest and Dillinger but their structure is so freewheeling that it sounds like a death metal band playing jazz like a jam band. It's more over the top and inventive then anything by Dillinger. It may be human ability almost at it's max.... This album has broken new ground for tech metal . It's very loose and chaotic. probably the most complex chaos ever recorded so far. Anyone that disses this album truly knows nothing about tech-metal and death-jazz. Athiest was the first death-jazz band and one of the only so far. Psyopus has arangements similar to Athiest and Dillinger but their structure is so freewheeling that it sounds like a death metal band playing jazz like a jam band. It's more over the top and inventive then anything by Dillinger. It may be human ability almost at it's max.... nice forum you got there http://www.trinitytc.com/888/casino-directory-2005.html Dillinger Fans, in luck. Psyopus is just AMAZING. Just insane technical shit, fast chaos rifts by guitarist, and just fast drumming, which i would need to say seems like he has more then 2 arms. Creating a hole new sound, I am just blown away by these guys. I would have to say that this band is one of the sickest bands I have heard, like others have said, they aren't another Dillinger Escape Plan, but pull through with amazing and chaos guitar plays, and just insane fucking drumming. The vocals are just out of control. All fits so well toegther, hard to believe they have only been together for 2 years. If you want to escape from reality, i recommend you buy there cd. It'll blow your fuvking mind. I am truely amazed. They add tons of technicality, and still manage to give alot of thier songs thier own personality. The riffs, drumrolls and basslines they fly through are just rediculous, and anyone who has seen them live can tell you how much fucking energy and soul they beat into this. Great record, great band, and thank god I live a few miles from where they originated... me -> AMAZED!!!! I saw these guys back in Auburn NY, and I was amazed! I am glad there are bands still pushing THERE own limits and playing what comes out fo them, isnt that what music is about? I have played anything form Metal,death, punk, pop, hardcore, casue these are all my influences, I am not ashamed at what comes out when I write music, and niether are these guys! I wish them luck and I hope to catch them soon. Hopefully if your in Richmond, give me a line dudes! Ill watch some PSYOPUS! any hate mail or love mail send to...ffatbutter@hotmail.com They don't take themselves seriously at all, so anyone that said that is very off. There is only one guitar player and he has been playing crazy stuff like this for years. Good people. Good tunes. they're really, really technical...but they dont write memorable songs at all. too many bands are super tech but write shitty songs, this is a good example...they're good with their instruments and can put to shame a lot of other bands in that category...but the good song writing isnt there. thats all. Dude, this is just like a metal version of Ahleuchasticas. very cool stuff. they clearly are great musicians. They're on a label and they tour playing corny music, I'd say that's taking themselves too seriously The first track is called "Mork and Mindy." They're hardly taking themselves too seriously. Nice try though. this takes itself WAYYYY too seriously well they're certainly good musicians... That mp3 is pretty cool until it gets angry...yeesh one of the guitarist spent a year in a hospital bed just playing guitar. I can honestly say I've never heard the guitar played like that before...wow...I might not be a fan of the screaming, but I have to give credit where credit is due...these guys have some fucking talent i'm not a huge fan of the genre, but these guys are just crazy...and i mean crazy... |
