I am not able to find any band that sounds quite like MASTODON. I think these guys set a new kind of progressive heavy metal that for my ears was never matched by any other band. However there are bands trying their best to get close and some of them with success like OCTOHAWK from Norway. The band had surprised the local scene with their debut album Animist from 2021 and now they have released the 7 track album Determinist via Crime Records. The proposal is a very heavy sound with intricate arrangements as can be felt is the 2 opening tracks “Arcane Dawn” and “Quantum Age”. The singer Stian Svorkmo reminds me of a mix of Troy Sanders and David Draiman but with a heavier approach.

The arrangements are very intricate and despite the very heavy guitars, there is space to explore the sounds of instruments that do not belong in the metal and it sounds good like in the tune “Decode”. You will also notice that the songs are quite long, reaching over 6 minutes on average like in the heavy “Earthrise” that has a killer riff by guitar players Stian Svorkmo and Christian Schei. Despite proeminent guitars all over the tracks, the guitar duo is shy of solos giving me the impression that something is missing. Brent Hinds would agree with me. The album also has an “instrumental” tune called “Earthrise” that did not add much. I really do not understand  these fillers especially in a good album like this. Listening a little more another band that comes to mind is TEXTURES from the Netherlands. Especially in the intricate arrangements and the more guttural vocals.

Another good track is “Beyond Tomorrow” that has a nice interlude with an interesting bass arrangement by bass player Espen Geitsund. Despite the extreme musical prowess and a variety of moods in each song, I believe the band loses a little on vocal melody as the epic parts in the songs do not have that memorable chorus. The band also has a very competent drummer in David Jøndahl Hjellum that displays some pretty intricate grooves and fills. We end our journey with the good “Gateways” that shows once again that the band is on the right path to leave another mark in the metal scene in Norway and worldwide. This last tune even has some influences from GHOST. Nice work from the Norwegian fellas that will soon find what may separate their sound from the other bands giving their own identity.