Building on the ambitious experimental sound of their previous album, The Tribunal, Molitoth from Kansas City expands their musical landscape on You, adding a pronounced progressive metal edge to an already distinctive style rooted in alternative and progressive metal. With heavy, intricate riffing and deeply passionate vocals, the band delivers ambitious, expansive song structures, inventive guitar work, and powerful drumming. These combined elements create a sound that offers a strong platform for further musical exploration.
The album’s structure appears to gradually shift into a middle section with sprawling, complex songs before moving to a phase with deeply immersive compositions. While some may suggest mixing these song types for a more balanced feel, I enjoy the sense of buildup that the tracklist offers, creating a dynamic flow throughout.
Opening with the brooding, somewhat restrained “Acolyte,” the album sets an emotional tone that soon builds with “Disputes” and the explosive “Soft Disclosure,” igniting a strong momentum. The trio of Kyle Brandt on vocals and keyboards, Madelyn Robertson on guitars and keyboards, and Sam Sartorius on drums push the album into a more alternative/post-rock territory with “The Maze of Existence,” maintaining a gripping sense of momentum that keeps listeners fully engaged.
Tracks like the slow-burning “Dissipate” simmer with emotion, feeling ready to explode at any moment, while the extraordinary, multi-layered “No Surrender” delivers a rich, textured experience. These later tracks continue the album’s thoughtful pacing, holding the listener’s attention with varied, immersive material even through the closing minutes of You.
If you want music that is varied and regularly expansive, yet grounded and avoiding musical excess, and which delivers plenty of passion and emotion without becoming draining, I fully recommend You. And you can find it on Bandcamp.
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