Bandcamp describes MATTEN in the following way: Based in Barcelona, MATTEN explores the tension between crushing heaviness and expansive, atmospheric passages. Drawing inspiration from post-metal titans like AMENRA, the technical prowess of ANIMALS AS LEADERS, and the intensity of GOJIRA, the band blends intricate rhythms, powerful riffs, and subtle jazz-infused textures." The album has six songs, and "Enter" is first. Your vision is cloudy at first, as the song begins to establish a sound. It's heavy, somewhat dissonant, and every bit of unusual, but it settles in nicely. Through some weighted and darker passages, you get an immediate sense of their musicianship, and it's strong. Shadows loom like something waiting just beyond recognition; half-formed, patient, and quietly closing in, but the gentler passages are warm, and jovial at times. This is complicated material, but also quite accessible, and the number of shifts can't be easily counted. You just aren't prepared for the gravity of the heaviness.

"Worn" skips over the pretense of clean tones and just goes right for your jugular. But as fast as the beast was, he retreats just as quickly. There is constant tension in this song, and the push and pull from heavier to gentler tones happens seamlessly. There are also some jazzy tones mixed in, and it begs me to ask, is there anything the band can't do? "Deranged" begins with Djent tones that are impossibly heavy…pressing down until everything feels on the verge of collapse. The transition to clean, jazzy tones is uncanny, and seems to come out of the blue. Do I hear sax notes? "Aftermath" has that sense of post apocalyptic grandeur. It borders on chaos for me, yet the band steers through landmine after landmine without missing the road. Darkness creeps up slowly, until you look around and that's all you see. "48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W" are coordinates for something…I had to google it to find out. It refers to Point Nemo, which is sometimes called the "pole of inaccessibility. The tones are very smooth here, even sultry.

"A Tower Collapsing Without End" is the final song, and they openly embrace Jazz here, with funky little beats and bass notes that move all over the place. Even the heavy tones that follow are jazzy, although both the guitar and bass turn menacing. I have mentioned this fact many times before. Instrumental bands have to work harder to gain your attention because there are no vocals or lyrics you can use to guide you. I even know some people who won't even listen to instrumental music for these very reasons. What we have here is an album that is always moving, shifting, even metamorphosing. They shift from passage to passage and from weight to light with the skills of a Nascar driver navigating a track in a heated race. The jazzy elements fit right in, proving Metal can be very diverse.