WHEEL is a Finnish Progressive Metal band. They released their debut album "Moving Backwards" in February 2019, followed by their second album "Resident Human" on March 26th 2021. Celebrating the new release and set up, WHEEL are going on their very first North America Tour together, before heading out to a massive tour through Europe in 2023. "Ruminations" is their latest EP, and contains three songs.

"Blood Drinker" is the first of three. Heavy, Djent accents combine with harmonized clean vocals and some dexterous meter shifting. The weighted accents win over the majority of the sound, but there are also some melodies, albeit somewhat subdued. "Impervious" begins with thick bass notes and jazz type drumming. The clean vocals here are quite expressive, and when the riff gets going, the sound thickens up. This song is very well put together. You can easily here the Progressive elements...the stop-and-go on a dime meter shifts, and the vigorous riffing, but the song remains quite accessible and catchy.

"Synchronize" closes the short, three-track album. It opens with smooth but dark clean tones and some poignant strings and harmonized vocals. The sound is held back by skillful musicians who you know could cut loose, but they favor development instead. Hopefully, these three strangely beautiful songs are just a taste of a new album, because I like what I hear. Each song has a distinctive sound...at times ethereal and catchy, and at other times heavy and powerful. You can tell the band has talent as well. I am looking forward to what hopefully is a new full-length soon.