Home Live For Live Music Orchestral Prog Rockers Thank You Scientist Debut Stellar New LP, ‘Terraformer’

Orchestral Prog Rockers Thank You Scientist Debut Stellar New LP, ‘Terraformer’ [Exclusive Stream]

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If you’re a fan of modern, progressive rock, Thank You Scientist is a band that should be on your radar. Today, Live For Live Music is pleased to be debuting the band’s third and latest studio effort, Terraformer.

“We’re proud to finally let Terraformer loose on the world,” shares bandleader and guitarist, Tom Monda. “It is the product of much love and many labored hours. It’s the first record to feature our new lineup, although we have been touring together for a few years. I’m really excited for everyone to hear what we’ve been cooking up together.”

You can stream Thank You Scientist’s Terraformer in its entirety below:

Thank You Scientist – Terraformer – Full Album Stream

[Video: Evil Ink Records]

For those unfamiliar, Thank You Scientist is a 7-piece orchestral progressive-rock band that draws from a wide variety of sounds, evoking thematic similarities to a range jam scene favorites from Snarky Puppy to Aqueous to Cycles. Alongside Monda—who’s a freak of nature on the guitar and wields a Fretless Vigier Surfreter—the band features Salvatore Marrano (vocals), Ben Karas (violin), Cody McCorry (bass), Joe Fadem (drums), Sam Greenfield (saxophones, bass clarinet) and Joe Gullace (trumpet, flugelhorn). Monda is the bandleader, and together the septet creates throughly-composed pieces—much like a jazz ensemble or an orchestra, but with modern rock instrumentation, a violin, and horns. The result is something otherworldly and complex, but thoroughly enjoyable to listen to.

On Terraformer, the band even enlisted a string quartet with two additional violins, a cello, and a viola to further fill out their vision. The instrumentation is even globally influenced, utilizing Chinese Classical instruments like the shamisen, guzheng harp and erhu (best heard on “New Moon”), and a Greek string instrument known as the bouzouki. Electronic elements are achieved using synthesizers, electronic drum pads, a theremin (which is considered to be the first electronic musical instrument) and an EWI, or electronic wind instrument.

Terraformer, out Friday, June 14th on Caludio Sanchez’s (of Coheed and Cambria) Evil Ink Records, showcases Thank You Scientist at their best: the 2.0 version. The record’s 13 tracks take up 2 full LPs and project a journey into the artistic madness of their world. Uniquely, every single member of the band has a highlighted feature solo sprinkled throughout the record—be it violin, bass, or saxophone—showcasing the overall creative abilities of the group.

Opener “Wrinkle” sets the tone with its ethereal guitar riffs leading into complex progressive rock time signatures, further accentuated by the horns. “FXMLDR”, named fondly for X-Files character, Fox Mulder, is a rock opera in its own right, clocking in just under 8 minutes. “Swarm” opens with that fancy, shreddy guitar work for which Monda has become known, with a propulsive nature driving the tune forward through intricate instrumental builds and breakdowns.

The following track, “Son Of a Serpent”, features off-kilter, alternating saxophone and drum lines alongside a haunting vocal performance from Marrano. This track is a highlight on the record, featuring nearly every sound of which Thank You Scientist is capable in some form or fashion over the course of its 8 minutes.

“Birdwatching” is one of the more experimental tracks on Terraformer, and just like that, they’ve intricately layered electronics into their rock opera. Then there’s “Everyday Ghosts”, which urges you to clap along to the relatable chorus line, “tired of breaking my back for a million assholes.” Clocking in around 10 minutes, “Everyday Ghosts” sees the band take their jazz-trained chops to new heights, and dancey interludes inspire daydreams of seeing this band hit next summer’s music festival circuit.

“Chromology” is a math rock dream with its complex time signatures, and “Geronimo” has an amazing operatic vocal breakdown near the 3:30 mark that inspires chills. “Life Of Vermin” is truly full of surprises, yet another thoroughly-composed gem on Terraformer. “Shatner’s Lament” is a gorgeous and sexy instrumental interlude which leads into “Anchor”, a more haunting rock ballad with some freakish pedal-assisted violin soloing nestled in its nearly 10-minute runtime. “New Moon” is probably the slowest overall track on the record, but a welcome dive in intensity before the odyssey ends with the title track, “Terraformer,” closing the album on an anthemic note.

How much longer before the Thank You Scientist secret is out? We hear Les Claypool is already a fan, and with Terraformer less than a day away from release, chances are it won’t be too long before everyone is in on it. Take an exclusive early listen to Terraformer above and be sure to check out the record wherever you get your music starting tomorrow.

The band has dates scheduled throughout the year, even making an appearance in the UK. Tickets and more info are available on the band’s website here.

The post Orchestral Prog Rockers Thank You Scientist Debut Stellar New LP, ‘Terraformer’ [Exclusive Stream] appeared first on L4LM.

Source: L4LM.com