STARGAZER - Psychic Secretions LP

Described as black metal by a hopelessly wrong member of the crew, true gentlemen and scholars recognize StarGazer as experimental, atmospheric, cosmic blackened death metal.

Psychic Secretions reflects this, representing death metal which is not quite progressive but certainly more experimental than most. Its leads are darting and technical, with twisting tempos and time signatures ensuring things remain unpredictable.

StarGazer could be compared with Usurpress, though they’re darker and not as melodic. The band eschews straight-forward grooves in favor of textures and variety. The knotty song-writing synthesizes rhythmic complexity in the sharp drumming and gloriously expressive bass guitar with guitar leads that range from classic, to raw, to shredding.

“The Occidental Scourge” demonstrates the strongest streaks of black metal in its tremolo-picked leads, though touches of this are notable throughout the remainder of the record. This track also exhibits the deliberate but frenzied guitar solos which add another element to the mix; they fit the angular, dynamic approach here.