SUSPYRE – SUSPYRE (2012)

It’s been 4 years since their excellent When Time Fades… CD, but New Jersey’s progressive metal titans Suspyre are back with their latest release, simply titled Suspyre. There have been some changes in the Suspyre camp since we’ve last seen them, and the band is now comprised of Clay Barton (vocals), Sam Bhoot (bass), Andrew Distabile (guitar), Gabriel Marshall (drums), Gregg Rossetti ( guitars, fretless bass, Chapman Stick, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone), and April Sese (keyboards). Fret not, despite some changes, the band has not altered their approach to creating adventurous progressive metal of the highest quality.

Let me just start off by saying that Clay Barton is one of the most underrated vocalists in progressive metal today. This guy just keeps getting better and better, and his mix of high pitched vocals and gruff Russell Allen insprired snarls (alongside the death metal growls from guest singer Rob DeSimone) on “Tranquility & Stress” is truly remarkable, adding to the carefully arranged musical chaos perfectly. Guitarists Distabile & Rossetti drop in some tasty lead lines and melodies on the catchy “The Divided Son”, while the textured and quite jazzy “Still Bending the Violet” is a great vehicle for Rossetti and his sax, but also features some wonderful guitar solos. The mix of acoustic pop, jazz, and prog on “Cancún” is quite addicting, and the crunchy “The Cycle” is heavy yet majestic, featuring some challenging unison guitar & keyboard lines.

The last two songs on the album are also the most progressive, those being “The Whispers Never Written” and “The Man Made of Stone”. Rossetti adds in some sultry sax amidst the crushing riffs, atmospheric keys, and soaring vocals from Barton on the former, while on “The Man Made of Stone” the intensity is kicked up a notch, as Rossetti & Distabile lay down some impressive riffs, pinch harmonics, and solos in a song that also includes Bhoots’ nimble bass grooves and some inventive keyboard textures from Sese. At the forefront though are Barton’s wonderfully powerful vocals, and equally important are the backing vocals, which are expertly layered for maximum effect. Just a killer piece to close out the CD.

Honestly, I’ve had a soft spot for this band since they first arrived on the scene, and they continue to impress in a big way here on Suspyre. Not centent to just take the Dream Theater inspired path that so many other progressive metal acts head towards, Suspyre add plenty of prog, jazz, and pop flavors into their metal brew, giving them one of the most unique styles on the scene. Stunning stuff once again from a band that just keeps getting better.
Track Listing
1. Chaser (4:49)
2. Tranquility & Stress (9:57)
3. The Divided Son (4:57)
4. Still Bending the Violet (6:13)
5. The Fire Dancer (5:11)
6. Cancún (3:55)
7. Shades… (0:47)
8. The Cycle (5:12)
9. The Whispers Never Written (9:15)
10. The Man Made of Stone (12:23)

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