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Psychotic Waltz: The God-Shaped Void
Psychotic Waltz - The God-Shaped Void Album Art Work

Psychotic Waltz: The God-Shaped Void

Progressive Metal
5.0/5.0

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Inside Out Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 12.02.2020 | Released: 14.02.2020

Perhaps more well-known in the European theater, San Diego based Psychotic Waltz had a prolific musical career between 1986 and 1997. Between 1990 and 1996, the band delivered four studio albums, all of which were well-received by fans and critics alike, and lead to a consistent touring presence in Europe. Psychotic Waltz would disband shortly after 1996's Bleeding. Yet the band found a renaissance when the five original members reunited in 2010, and then returned to the stage in Europe the following year. Recently they appeared at ProgPower USA in Atlanta. Now, after 24 years, and ten years in the making, Psychotic Waltz returns with their fifth studio album, The God-Shaped Void.

Psychotic Waltz - Click For Larger Image

Psychotic Waltz

Suffice to say, Psychotic Waltz has resurrected to fine form, once more delivering their impressive and entertaining, twin guitar driven, progressive metal. The songs within The God-Shaped Void are both ambitious and dramatic where walls of riffage unite with synth embellishment to create a dense, elaborate canvas. In turn the steadiness and power of the rhythm section makes the arrangements even larger, deeper, and bombastic. Then the guitar duo of Dan Rock and Brian McAlpin unleash their soaring and epic solos. The God-Shaped Void is a guitar solo lovers dream. Within all this is vocalist Devon Graves, the artist previously known as Buddy Lackey, who sings melodic, clean, and ever so sublime that you may think his voice will get lost in the compositions. But it does not. (And, yeah, I was just waiting to use that Prince reference.)

To mention a few songs, you'll find some expansive and heavy tunes with Devils And Angels, Back To Black, and Pull The String, all delivering impressive guitar solos. For something like Stranded, you'll hear a song driven by big riffage and even larger drums to offer more heavy and steady metal. Later, and similar, a sharp guitar line over drums starts Sisters Of The Dawn, a rather bombastic number with another concluding epic solo. Several songs, The Fallen, While The Spider Spins, and Demystified, lead with a softer acoustic guitar starts. But don't let your guard down as all the songs rise to ambitious, eloquent prog metal and, again, fantastic guitar lines.

All said, Psychotic Waltz's The God-Shaped Void is excellent and entertaining album of guitar-driven melodic progressive metal. Quite recommended. And welcome back, Psychotic Waltz.


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The Bottom Line

All said, Psychotic Waltz's The God-Shaped Void is excellent and entertaining album of guitar-driven melodic progressive metal. Quite recommended. And welcome back, Psychotic Waltz.

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