When we take into consideration just how well done instrumental metal can become in good hands, the potential for greatness becomes virtually limitless since it can take place in any style with nothing but a tremendous effort as the result. Progressive metal is easily one with the highest potential for craziness as you can really cover a lot of ground while still being considered progressive, and there have been plenty of bands out there to approach the idea and execute it with a surprising level of quality. The previous experience of the mastermind behind Lunarite speaks for itself, but that doesn’t make the impact of the act’s debut album any less entrancing.

Even just tagging this record as solely a progressive metal work would be to speak in immensely broad terms with the instrumental aspect being arguably the only thing about the record that’s easy to pin down when it comes to the style of the performance that makes up these eight tasteful tracks. With not much but an abstract virtual landscape in the mind’s eye thanks to the cover art, “Distance” provides us with an exceedingly well done mixture of djent and even some metalcore aspects covered with a wonderful layer of progressive cues that tie the whole of the record together to make it a powerful and evocative performance despite never once uttering a single lyric, making it a creation rife with interpretation that’s left solely up to the listener. There aren’t enough bands out there that are able to bring any of those styles to the table on their own to great effect which makes the successful act of bringing them all together in one pot all the more staggering as Lunarite has really brought to life an accomplished work that’s as immersive as it is talented in virtually every aspect of its conception and execution. It all comes together to make for the exact kind of record that we need more of out of the world of instrumental metal for all that it dares to bring to the table in order not just to entrance the listener but to try something different that in the end feels fresh, organic, and downright thrilling.

A blank slate that can turn into anything always feels like a game of chance when you step into it from the outside, and it makes the glorious reality of an effort like this all the more rewarding as you can really appreciate every factor of the excellence entering your ears. In every way, Lunarite has achieved that exact euphoria with “Distance” for all that it delivers despite daunting odds in the face of potential success and failure with the end result being nothing short of truly delicious.

“Distance” releases on November 26th!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Distance” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Lunarite on Facebook here.