Jack The Joker - The Devil To Pay In The Backlands

Incredibly talented musicians. Top score for that, despite anything else. 

As written above, this is one of the busiest albums you could listen to. I'm not sure where something ends and something else begins. Generally, this isn't something I'd listen to for fun, or maybe not at all - not the way I'd throw on some Slayer or Immortal or Marduk or Melechesh. But out of fascination, I'm listening again, now. And actually, I enjoy the album! I imagine it's not for everyone, but the music is amazing, love it or not. Percussionist doesn't relax - and has incompatible timings, odd beats & rhythmic techniques. Bassist seems to have two picking hands, or 12 fingers per hand - and a super chunky bass sound. Vocalist with a shocking range & breadth, clear & powerful, and some deathy bits too. Guitars include fancy solo work & power metally bits here and there; plus a bit of classy acoustic; and there's keyboard in here too.

A technical sonic assault - and not in like a brutal death fashion, but by a solid & crazy, multidisciplinary / jazzy fusion of elements - that nearly defies description in a similar way as deathcore can nearly defy description. Not just music here, but fine entertainment.

I'm very pleased to have experienced this album; never before listened to one quite like it. And if another arrives from this talented team, I'll grab that too. Thanks a lot, Niceden. This is fascinating stuff. And thank you to the friends and commenters who got me here.