Ask just about anyone who has ever tried forming a band, and he or she is likely to say that finding a vocalist with the "right fit" is one of the most difficult tasks to be faced. Several bands of the early 21st century must agree with this assessment, as an abundance of hard rockin', prog-like bands have cropped up -- completely devoid of vocals. One of the most highly touted of the bunch is Chicago's
Pelican, but this vocal-less musical form has also reached other regions, as proven by the debut release by New York City's
Heston Rifle,
What to Do at the Time of an Accident. Like
Pelican,
Heston Rifle have a definite metallic edge to their sound, and like Tool, they specialize in long and winding/unpredictable song structures. But
Heston Rifle are certainly not merely a retread, as they're one of the first bands of the "instrumental prog metal genre" to feature violin as a major ingredient of their sound, as evidenced by such standouts as the slightly Celtic-flavored "Can You Guess How Much That Guy Weighs." And you also have to love a band that forgoes recording its entire album in a conventional recording studio (the inside of the CD booklet states that "basements, lofts, bedrooms, hallways, machine rooms, and apartments" were utilized for the recording). Full of many shifting moods,
What to Do at the Time of an Accident is best experienced when listened to from front to back. ~ Greg Prato