Reviewer Craig Hartranft of Dangerdog.com reviews ISD’s “Recurring Themes”:
“If Imminent Sonic Destruction is upon you, then what should you expect? Some form of extreme metal, possibly death, black, or hardcore metal or, possibly some amalgam of all? Or not. The creation of Detroit guitar wizard Tony Piccoli, Imminent Sonic Destruction is a modern progressive metal band, which also features some of the Motor City’s finest musicians. Notable is former Tiles drummer Pat DeLeon.
Piccoli has been heavily influenced a breadth of artists, including the heaviness and eclecticism of Strapping Young Lad and Meshuggah, but also prog from past to present. He includes Genesis and Dream Theater as muses. With that diverse mixture, you should expect something rather impressive and creative, and you would be, mostly, correct.
Perhaps not to scare off traditional prog enthusiast (of which I could be one) for what comes later, ISD begins with subtleness of Driving Home, a sometimes heavy piece that ultimately puts the focus on Piccoli’s guitar skills. Monster follows, and it’s a monster arrangement obese with riffage that smacks of modern thrash and, curiously, there’s not significant guitar solo. Later, the opus (and longest track) takes the motifs of trad prog and the blistering heavy harshness of modern metal and boils them into a ravaging arrangement. But that’s not all that’s going here. Seven minutes in you get some modern hard rock groove, heavy but with a harmonious vocal arrangement.
To the end expect nothing less than intrigue. Temple has crushing riffs playing against some acoustic guitar early. Then, near the end, there’s riffs that echo Brian May’s Queen catalog. Here It’s Over and Sick can range between tame and intense, pummeling and subtle, within a singular arrangement. That makes for sound progressive music. As an aside: there’s some harsh, near hardcore, vocals here, but they’re only mildly annoying.
Clearly, with Recurring Themes, Imminent Sonic Destruction wants to put some fire into the belly of progressive metal. There’s enough modern metal nuances (read: harsh and sometimes ‘core’) mixed with the complexity and melody of traditional melody to create an impressive and entertaining venture. Quite recommended.”
4.5 out of 5 stars
http://www.dangerdog.com/2012-music-reviews/imminent-sonic-destruction-recurring-themes.php
