Style: Progressive Metal, Post Metal, Math Rock (Mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Mastodon, Intronaut, Dvne
Review by: Christopher
Country: New Jersey, USA
Release date: 22 September, 2022
Earlier this year I covered the latest release from East of the Wall. Well it turns out their members are a busy bunch, because Equivocator is a project from two of the East of the Wall guys, Matt Lupo and Chris Alfano. Switching into a heavier gear, their self-titled debut EP draws on early Mastodon influences, adds a ton of harsh vocals, and throws the complex compositional arrangements of their parent band into the mix too.
Opening track, “The Angle,” brings the harsh vocals and a riff straight out of an early Mastodon record before a crescendo of urgent chords and chaotic drumming. Meanwhile, “Axiomatic” builds from its heavy metal start and quasi-shoegazey chorus to a climax of pounding drums and a dissonant, bendy guitar riff. Equivocator have an immense energy that it’s hard not to get caught up in and their musical choices are familiar yet consistently wrongfoot the listener.
The drumming pulverises, its more pummelling sections reminding me of James Stewart’s superlative blast-beats-but-make-it-heavy-fucking-metal performance on Sermon’s latest album. Indeed, while Equivocator’s style leans on proggy post and sludge metal standards, their composition is truly something to behold, with the song structures flowing logically yet creatively, every instrument carrying equal weighting in each overall song; Lupo and Alfano have been doing this a long time and it shows. The harsh vocals are nicely sludgy, while the clean harmonies have a flavour of DuVall and Cantrell in modern Alice in Chains, particularly on “A Knowing Vulnerability”.
Indeed, closing track “A Known Vulnerability” sees the duo really stretching their legs with Lupo adding some honking saxophone for atmosphere, those striking clean harmonies pushing the track to new heights, and phrases of staccato riffage vying for supremacy against lumbering post metal sections. The melody in the latter half of the song has an Intronaut sense of psychedelia, reprising itself between heavier sections in a way that proves deeply satisfying—sometimes a riff or an idea is just too damn cool, and the way Equivocator play with this one is fantastic.
“Always leave them wanting more” goes the old showbiz adage, and at just three songs in fifteen minutes, I definitely want more from Equivocator. Blending their established East of the Wall sound with rawer metal influences, Lupo and Alfano lend their own flair to a familiar progressive metal style. I don’t want to be an equivocator (this is where a certain French society of music lovers stands up and leaves) so let me be clear: I really hope these guys continue to spread their compositional wings for a full-length release soon.
Recommended tracks: Just do the whole EP, it’s three tracks long. And go listen to East of the Wall’s new album if you find yourself wanting more.
You may also like: East of the Wall, Black Peaks, Void of Sleep
Final verdict: 7.5/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Metal-Archives page
Label: Nefarious Industries – Bandcamp | Facebook | Official Website
Equivocator is:
– Chris Alfano (lead vocals)
– Matt Lupo (all instruments, programming, additional vocals)
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