From Bandcamp, “Emerging from the Italian progressive metal scene, BENTHOS has released their InsideOutMusic debut, “From Nothing.” This sophomore album delves into humanity's positive and negative imprints and how these have shaped society over time. Following the band’s 2021 debut, “II” - a release that resonated powerfully within international progressive and metal communities, with some even hailing it as one of the best debuts in modern progressive metal – “From Nothing” broadens BENTHOS’ tapestry of aggressive, ethereal, chaotic, and jazz-infused modern Prog-metal.” The album has 12 songs, but four of them are under two-minutes.

“It Starts” is first, and it’s a brief into, leading to “From Nothing.” The variety of their influences and breadth of their technique is like water on your face during a deluge…inevitable. It’s aggressive, but also gentle at times, and they move in and through transition periods with ease. The big test is, is it accessible to the “average” Progressive Music fan? More on that later. “Let Me Plunge” has a harder and darker edge to it, and I am really noticing the (chorus?) effects in the guitars. The band plays each calculated note with confidence, but is also not afraid to take the music to places where you haven’t been. The song is both choppy and smooth at the same time, and it is possible for these two things to coexist in harmony.

“As a Cordyceps” refers to a genus of parasitic fungi that primarily infects insects, and it’s a complex sound that demands the listener’s full attention. It’s like a jack in the box…crank it slow, and pleasant music plays, but crank one too many times at out it comes without warning. The music is horribly dissonant at times. “Fossil” begins with what some might call close to utter chaos, but keep listening, there is a method to their madness. Going through the first few minutes, it’s like riding a small craft on choppy seas, and the Djent tones are dangerously aggressive. You also get a real sense of the band’s incredible musicianship. “Recompose” is aptly titled…it’s a chance to get dressed again and gather your things.

“The Giant Child” is that smooth song that I was waiting for. The music is a combination of gentle tones with sharp angles, but the vocals are like butter, melting over top. “Pure” is another winner, combining electronica with meaty bass notes, a hulking bottom end, but vocals that are pure bliss. The instrumental section is as gentle as a feather pillow, but the weighted accents that follow are like an elephant taking a seat on it. “Perpetual Drone Monkeys” is just a bit odd, as the title suggests, and in line with how Progressive music can be at times. It also rages with the intensity of a fire with accelerants, and they duck in and out of these changes with the skills of a seasoned surgeon.

“Too Everything” swings the opposite direction, away from the bulky weight of the previous song at first, but the segue into the spiked field happens pretty fast. The melodic vocal harmonies are like Oxyclean working behind the scenes to get the deep stains out of your clothes. “It Ends” is the final song, and “it ends” on an odd note. To recap, let’s begin with the positives. The band’s musicianship is off the charts. They end at a 10, and BETHOS takes it to an 11. They are nothing short of wizards navigating more meter shifts and transitions then you can count as well. As I mentioned above, the album isn’t as accessible until several listens, even to a seasoned Progressive music fan. They make you work for it, and as the saying goes, working hard makes it worth it in the end. For me, “From Nothing” is a musician’s Progressive Metal album, and one of the best musical feats of the year so far.