The mix between the brutality and weight of extreme Metal styles and the technique coming from Progressive Rock or Jazz is a well-established feature for many bands that prefers to do things in this way. But there are bands that are coming, as Big Daddy here write these words, that are searching for new ways. Maybe the Canadian band THE PARALLEL is one of them, due their work heard on their first EP, "Embark".

They still have a way to go because their mix between an oppressive and aggressive form of experimental and Progressive Metalcore, with a technical embodiment and melodic insight, is truly good. And it has a good amount of personality, but still is immature. No, it's not bad at all; it just needs a bit maturing to put out of their hearts their best. The use of guttural voices, technical guitars and bass guitars, and a work of the drums, full of broken tempos and Jazz technique, are not something new in musical terms.

The sound quality is very good indeed, because the production was done in a careful way. The instruments and vocals are all clear and you can distinguish them all in each song.  No big deal, just a fine quality, with instrumental tunes chosen wisely. And there are some special guests on the EP: Eric Almeida of AURAS on "Pendulum", and Chris Cosentino (the one who made the mix of the EP) on "Endeavours".

"Embark" with its fine technical guitars, "Pendulum" and the wise use of different vocal tunes, the fine melodies shown on "Shipwrecked", show that the band can become really good, but need to mature a bit more. But on "Endeavours", their last song, due the technical work on drums and bass guitar, and the excellent melodies, we can hear clearly that these guys are really talented, that there's a question of time, more shows and some rehearsals to put the things on the right way.

Their music is right, and they can be a great name in a near future. But by now, "Embark" is a good sample of what they can produce.<