Review: id. – Sagittarius A

‘id.’ is a hard to find band online but I somehow managed to get a promo from their PR (Asher Media). It’s still incredibly hard to find them online: no real online social media presence, nothing posted on YouTube and extremely poor to no results found on Google probably due to the software company iD, the makers of Wolfenstein and Doom. This is a shame because these guys have a decent sound, even though it may be derivative from other bands. Their progressive metal sound isn’t inventive and the production is hollow and lifeless. Still, if you wanted an Opeth/Gojira (From Mars to Sirius) writing sound with an indie styled production quality, then ‘id.’s new album is what you’ll need.

The album is a 21 minute journey through progressive riffing and melodic tendencies. Their influences bleed out of them while they play their own creative compositions. Hints of Opeth and Gojira peek out often while listening to ‘id.’, which is both a grand thing as well as a curse. On one side, you enjoy the thoughtful chord progression and tempo changes. Then on the other side, you would rather be listening to the actual artist that influences them. The song “id.entity” sounds like a definite Gojira song, then “Sagittarius A” kicks on and it sounds like straight up Opeth. Musically, these guys are pretty good. Vocals tend to go a little south though.

There are 3 different types of vocal styles on this EP. The first two songs mainly feature a cringe worthy style of clean vocals. They are not terrible but are very flat and left me unimpressed. The other style is more of a basic death metal growl, which peak up near the end of the album. Lastly, the third vocal remedy is a mimic’d Gojira sound and it feels as if Joe Duplantier himself is on the mic. You’d think that sounding sort of like these AAA bands would be a positive but it just left me feeling unfulfilled. These guys have talent but they use their talents to copy a sound that others have already mastered.

‘id.’ have shown us they can put out some quality licks, drum grooves and vocals though. There are a few moments of discovering diamonds but it’s definitely surrounded in a heap of coal. Maybe some will enjoy this release but those will be for the hardcore progressive types whom worship the above mentioned bands. id. needs to work on their own creativity, adjust the tone and drop the clean vocals (or at least work on them a little more). A group with potential but instead sound like a struggling cover band.

6.5 out of 10

https://www.facebook.com/id.music

https://idmusic9.bandcamp.com/releases