Seattle prog rockers Autumn Electric have returned with their fifth studio album “Star Being Earth Child” earlier this year. The album has an engaging story to tell, and it does it with support from music that is nothing less captivating.

The album opens with “Infinite Islands Engulfed in the Silence,” a wonderfully fanciful, inspiring, and original way to start. Michael Trew sings with the peculiar cadences, and the instrumentation is a hypnotic and robust journey from a subtle, theatrical arrangement to an enticing buildup that carries the same untroubled spirit and brilliant timbres as the music of early Pink Floyd. “Someday I Will Find Out Who You Are” launches a sequence of soothing performance lovely transitions and catchy, heartfelt melodies that are topped with Trew’s flute work. There’s a vital British essence about the combination that makes it quite endearing too.

Trickier rhythms and an emphasis on structural changes make “She Has a Supernova” stand out, while “Whose Garden Was This?” ventures into a surprisingly different direction, with folk tones and a meditative, singer-songwriter atmosphere offering a philosophical vibe. Trew layers his vocals beautifully, adding a bit more emotion to the playing field. “Virgil” begins on a similarly quiet and reflective note but soon piles on the prog rock virtuosity and madness, with synths, frenzy drumming, and equally wild guitar work showcasing just how eccentric and ambitious they can be.

The disc ends with arguably its most emotional piece, “One of Your Kind.” A mournful yet smooth and classy introduction eventually dissolves into an acoustic guitar sculpture. From there, the psychedelic vibe comes back with a faint ominous vengeance, as well as slight touches of alternative rock.

All in all, Autumn Electric can be very proud of this album. It’s their most complex record out to date, and it proves that there are still artists that know how to pay tribute but retain originality. Highly recommended.

“Star Being Earth Child” is available from Bandcamp. Autumn Electric are on Facebook too.

Swindonian bears Ursus (note that “ursus” means “bear” in Latin) are a progressive/djent metal newcomers with lots of melodic death metal influences that have come up with their debut EP titled “The Migration” this past summer. With their aggressive approach to progressive metal, the sextet is swimming in the waters of djent. Considering that this EP is their debut release, it turns out that it is also a perfect headstart for their career.

“The Migration” has seven tracks in total, and each of the tunes shows that melody and aggression transmitted through breakdowns and brutal vocals are very important for what Ursus do. There are lots of different influences in the band’s music ranging from Between the Buried and Me to Periphery, Intervals, Korn, etc. But although Ursus pay their tribute to influences, they still build their own sound and make it sound original. Almost half an hour long “The Migration” has very tasty melodies based on progressive metal, but the band threads it through melodic death metal, and on moments it comes close to doom metal domain.

The first track on the album is an intro “The Beginning,” which kind of gives you an idea of what can be expected throughout the EP. Starting with “Burn,” “The Migration” keeps the grooviness until the end. Most credits for the EP being melodic go to guitars (three in the band!), which although being distorted most the time make the Ursus sound tasty.

The last song on the record is “The Migration,” and it comes with a different structure comparing with other tracks. It is by far most progressive and more melodic song, and it features a guest vocalist Beth Humphries. Her voice is calming, and somewhat sets the pace in a different direction. Adding female vocals to this song is a nice touch, it brings variety to the EP in overall. Perhaps, there is a hint that next Ursus releases will emphasise this melodic death metal side of the band.

If you are a fan of progressive death metal, djent and melodic metal, don’t pass this great, young UK band without giving them a listen. They certainly have a bright future.

“The Migration” EP is available from Bandcamp. Follow the band on Facebook.