Scale The Summit – Carving Desert Canyons
Prosthetic Records

Rating:  

Scale The Summit is a progressive/instrumental metal outfit based out of Houston, Texas and currently signed to Prosthetic Records. The group established themselves in 2005 and self-released and financed a full length record in 2007 called ‘Monument. The band then went on to sign with Prosthetic Records later that year. A lot of time has passed since their last record and they have now released another next full-length and their Prosthetic debut, ‘Carving Desert Canyons’.

The first thing listening to this record maybe me think was that their decision to self-release their first record may have been a misstep. This record is so well recorded and produced that it just seems like their first record, which was sufficiently lacking in those two areas in my opinion, really did not do the band justice at all. I initially listened to this band when they were pushing ‘Monument’ and came away very unimpressed. The songwriting displayed was clearly much less then what it on this record, but it was very clear that they were talented musicians.

‘Carving Desert Canyons’ is a realization of potential for this band. I don’t think that the record is flawless by any means, but it is just as solid as can be. Apart from the quality of the recording, the songwriting has taken a massive leap in the ‘right’ direction. ‘Monument’ had some parts that felt very out of place within their music,  trappings and derivatives of something you expect in a metalcore record. This record it seems like all instrumentation is on the same page and they have come together fantastically.

There was an obvious focus on writing good music here rather than just being technical for technicals sake. It has all the marks of what good instrumental music should be about, it’s full and robust, it has many faces and moods. I found it to be good background music to a number of different things I was doing. It actually reminds me of scored video game music if you’re familiar, except you know just guitars and drums.

I still think that there is work to be done here. Some songs are forgettable, but there is a lot of admirable instrumentation here and some very well written music. If you’re a fan of instrumental music, progressive metal/rock, or just a fan of talented musicians, I suggest you give ‘Carving Desert Canyons’ a listen. You may find something you like.