UK band SCHEMATA THEORY is a six man strong band based in Reading. They formed back in the summer of 2011, and just over a year later they self released their debut album “Dry Lung Rhetoric” on their own ABAF Records label.
As an old metal fan, this CD was an interesting experience. This fairly recent band do know their metal quite nicely, and does indulge in a fair bit of exploration in territories that have cropped on since I became less of a metal fan and more into material with something more of a sophisticated and elegant expression. But they also make plenty of references, intended or not, to material dating back quite a few years.
A nice point to start off with are the lead vocals. There’s two of them here, one with a clean, melodic and slightly whine-tinged voice that gives me associations to artists active in styles such as new wave and post punk as well as to early 80’s heavy metal. Somewhat darker in tonal range than traditional metal vocalists from way back when, and most certainly more controlled, but the general association sticks. He’s supplemented with a vocalist radically different in style, with croaks, shouts and a more typical evil and aggressive expression. Schemata Theory utilize this starkly contrasting pair of vocalists fairly clever too. You do get the expected choice of the melodic lead vocals catering for the passages exploring just such a vein of music while the grimmer voice gets to rule over the darker, menacing and more aggressive ones, but occasionally they also opt to do the complete opposite, which does create a fairly effective contrast and interesting dynamics.
Both vocalists gets to use their talents on material of a fairly varied scope, as the album and many of the compositions do merit a description as eclectic. Fairly modern-oriented, tight and aggressive thrash metal is arguably something of a foundation, with occasional lapses into a style variation I’ve seen referenced as djent in later years as a recurring element. But there’s also room for arrangements of a radically different nature, elegant and melodic passages closer to what I’d describe as melodic hard rock. In between those extremes Schemata Theory adds just about everything but the kitchen sink. Hammering hardcore tinged thrash metal with nods towards the likes of Nuclear Assault, electronic effects laced details closer to the likes of Ministry, occasional forays into realms that makes me suspect that bands like Soundgarden are well known to this band as well. Galloping themes with nods in the direction of power metal have their place, as do sequences with a distinct symphonic metal oriented expression. Melodic guitar solo runs and dual harmony guitar solos are frequent occurrences throughout, with accidental or planned nods in the direction of bands like King Diamond and Iron Maiden further expanding the scope of this album.
While the variety at hand makes for an interesting album, it is one that will fall between a few chairs among metal fans I suspect. Schemata Theory have opted for a greater variety than what is common, a choice that will limit their audience somewhat and to the more adventurous of listeners first and foremost I guess.
All in all I did find Schemata Theory’s debut “Dry Lung Rhetoric” to be an enjoyable acquaintance. I tend to enjoy variety myself, and I’ll often find bands that utilize a broad stylistic canvas to be interesting due to that alone. This particular specimen is a well made and performed one at that, and while they never managed to send chills down my spine I enjoyed the album from start to finish. A good quality production of varied and fairly eclectic metal, ranging from melodic hard rock to aggressive, tight and contemporary thrash metal in scope, and comes recommended to those that feels that this sounds like an intriguing combination.
My rating: 78/100