I think El Cielo is the best thing they've done by some distance. It's unfair how often I hear people comparing them to Tool because they are sort of arty/progressive/experimental kind of rock, as they could never in a thousand years compare to Tool, but they are still a great band in their own right.
I love the idea of the sleep paralysis theme of El Cielo. I always play that or Leftism if I'm having trouble sleeping, it's like a very long lullaby.
Dredg
It occured to me I'd never made a thread about these guys.
****ing amazing, astounding, incredible band to say the least.
"El Cielo" is such an otherworldly masterpiece. I slightly prefer it over "Leitmotif".
But boy does Gavin sound like Maynard on "El Cielo". He sounds like a cross between Maynard and Chino with his own style. Mostly Maynard though. I wouldn't say it's a rip-off, just very very similar. Amazing amazing voice. Music is unlike any other band I've heard before.
"Sanzen" has quite possibly the most beautiful chorus ever.
-AC
Now, about the band.
Yes, they may very well be my favorite band, and yes, I like them better then tool, and think as they make more albums their sound will only grow more and more amazing.
Their sound is truley unlike anything else out there, it mixes so many aspects of different musical genres. Some songs have a latin flavor to them, some metal, some of them is just artsy and electric, some of them have a strange trance inducing sound. I really can't wait for these guys to come into their own. They're still a young band with so much potential, I really hope they achieve it.
That would be my fault, I killed it.
They are very good, but I just can't get past the fact that a lot of the songs sound very similar to each other, and there really aren't many stand-out tracks. The dreamy atmosphere and quirky originality stops it from getting boring, but their album tracks just melt together into one long song, with the instrumentals providing the only noticeable interludes.
The only thing I think is samey about Dredg is as you said Deathblow, the songs can somewhat blend into each other but I think that's only with some of the choruses. Not necessarily the songs.
It's just where Gavin uses the chorus to get the point and/or meaning of the song across alot of the time.
I see what you mean though.
-AC
They have a new song from their upcomming album on their website www.dredg.com
As should be expected, it's chillingly beautiful and purely amazing, they seem to only be getting better with time, it boggles my mind to think how great they'll sound in 5 years from now. They very well could be the next "Tool".