From Bandcamp, “OF THE SUN is the transatlantic progressive death metal project led by guitarist/vocalist/graphic artist, Patrick Duvall. Based in Munich, Germany, OTS has created the upcoming EP, “Pattern Rebirth.” Drawing from bands like BTBAM, ALICE IN CHAINS, MOON TOOTH, and PSYCROPTIC, this four-song gnarl of sound covers miles of psychic ground and refuses simple explanation.” “Riot Act” is first, and you can hear the Progressive structures in the riff. At first, the heavy, crunchy riff and animated bass notes seem to follow a melody line, and then, dissonance is ushered in. The harsh vocals sound a bit like the snarl of Phil Anselmo to me, and it’s like PANTERA went Progressive Death.

The title track showcases the talents of David Duvall on the bass. His energetic bass notes keep pace with the riff and drums, and the band attacks from an impenetrable defensive stance. The harsh vocals are cadenced with a Hardcore rhythm at times and are looser at others. So far, I am impressed with their musicianship. “Under” is a nine-minute offering, which gives plenty of time for the band to explore, and explore they do. In this song, they take more to melody, and you can definitely hear the AIC influence, especially in the clean vocals. Approaching the mid-way point, there are some tense ambient moments. It’s a totally different sound than the previous two songs.

“Lost Tongue” closes the album, and the vocals harmonies are excellent, with more AIC  influenced sounds. It’s a relatively smooth ride, although dark at times, and it has delicate melodies that are quite catchy. Of course, there is a hardened end to the song as well, although it doesn’t overstep the melody. Overall, this was an interesting EP and I would love to hear more from the band. One thing that they did well was not committing to one central sound. Instead, they explored a few different genres so that the listener didn’t know what to expect. Their musicianship is strong, and their sense of adventure is daring.