It’s not uncommon anymore to where I can flip through some albums and come across something from one of the many, many talented artists that grace the metal scene that I’ll go out of my way to listen to. Why? Because I like a pretty picture and somehow that translates to any band kicking ass just because they went to a good artist, right? Why not, and tonight when I saw this wondrous piece from the likes of Moonroot I was all but compelled to check out this band that I had never once heard of. I’m so glad I did though because it’s due to that badass cover that I dove headfirst into the Gigafauna’s upcoming slab of true magnificence whose excellency cannot be understated.

I truly did not know what I was going to get when I went into this album as that cover can allude to so much of anything from atmospheric black metal to heavy psych, but what Gigafauna brings forth aligns more within the progressive side of everything with tremendous heaviness sprinkled across every song as they all have a thin layer of nastiness, sludge even, that’s so amazingly interesting right from the first note as “Frozen Wastes” promises from the very beginning a good time like few others. And to say they deliver on that promise would be to put it mildly! There’s true presence to everything that Gigafauna gives to us as they really know how to balance the progressive elements with the heavier side such that they both have their own time to shine while also having the capacity to do it simultaneously without causing a real clusterfuck of interest between the instruments or the overall flow of “Frozen Wastes” which never once lets up in its potency or sense of grandeur. The vocals always keep us grounded in this ever-expanding world that is “Frozen Wastes” as the craftsmanship among it all feels like second to none from time to time given how precise and exact Gigafauna are with their craft despite just putting out their first album last year! It shows immense determination and skill at their craft the likes of which legions of bands always strive to achieve in their time, but it’s here on their sophomore effort that Gigafauna shows us that they’re far from new kids not to be taken seriously as it’s with every single track from “Frozen Wastes” that show us they have the talent worthy of commendation with the capacity to keep the momentum going without having to even think about it.

It’s not terribly often that I find myself really excited about a piece of progressive metal because it really does feel like a lot of the style focuses more on being flashy rather than good, even though that can be good itself at times, but Gigafauna really shows us how it’s done with real talent and quality at every feasible turn with this album. If you’ve been looking for that album from the underground that actually pulls of a progressive sound mixed with undeniable heaviness in the right way, then there’s no way you can go wrong with “Frozen Wastes”!

“Frozen Wastes” releases on March 27th!

LISTEN to Gigafauna on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Gigafauna on Facebook here.