Scale The Summit - Carving Desert Canyons
Record Label: Prosthetic Records
Release Date: Feb 17, 2009

Scale The Summit - Carving Desert Canyons
Record Label: Prosthetic Records
Release Date: Feb 17, 2009

Reviewed by André Monnéy

How do you feel? What kind of a mood are you in? Who do you think can help you get in a better mood? These are all questions that aren’t necessarily asked when you are listening to music. More so, these questions are asked when visiting a shrink or getting a consultation for some prescribed pill that is suppose to make you feel better; however, all these questions apply to the aura Scale The Summit creates with their debut, Carving Desert Canyons.

Whether it’s the darker moods of “Sargasso Sea” or the uplifting yet punishing “The Great Plains,” you’ll be happy to know that while Scale The Summit is a slightly virtuoso instrumental metal band, they adhere to the policy that every genre should be incorporated into their art. Scale The Summit can fit in just about any genre of music. The band may claim to be “adventure metal,” but let’s face it they are just as much of an advertisement for Mr. Emo and Mr. Metalhead. The beauty of Carving Desert Canyons is that while it generally attracts metal fans with its 8-string guitar attack—an instrument which is generally out of reach for the casual guitar player—it will undoubtedly stick with anyone who is open enough to listen to music without vocals.

I’ve never been one to buy into the whole metal for the masses concept, but Scale The Summit has truly crafted something everyone can enjoy no matter their preference in music. I’ve had friends who were into the extreme side of Napalm Death and friends who were into the mellower side of Straylight Run thank me for introducing them to Carving Desert Canyons. If that’s not a sign of doing something right, I don’t know what is.

Recommended If You Like: Behold…The Arctopus, Pelican, A vocal free Circa Survive