Date Reviewed: 2/28/24
Review Summary: Headache-inducing prog metal. At your own risk.
Bisbâyé is a extreme prog metal band from Montreal, Quebec. The best way I can discribe this band is Meshuggah on steroids. The band is completely instrumental, as it would be impossible to make music this complex and still incorporate a vocalist.
As for the actual album, Gestalt is Bisbâyé's first full length. And it's among the most intense 40 minutes that I've listened to. The two gutairists are constantly ping ponging from time to time, along with the bassist and the two drummers there to make this even more confusing. Gestalt, the title track, starts off with a slightly distorted gutair before the band begins to pummel your ears. The music is so complex, yet everything flows into each other with ease. This entire album pummels your ears from beginning to end, almost relentlessly. Triptyque is actually somewhat danceable, despite everything going on in that 7 minutes. As you have probably guessed, this album is very heavy. The bassist does a great job given the fact he has to coordinate with two drummers. Everyone in the band adds weight.
Overall, if you want heavy, pummeling music, look no further. This band is the best I've seen that's done it.
Although, to be warned, it took me months before I could listen to this album and Synkronyk without taking a break the first 20 minutes.
Standout tracks: Gestalt, Triptyque, Kuujjuaq Paranoia.