When we take into consideration all that the many different realms of rock music have to offer to us, it’s no surprise to see that most instrumental approaches from most tend to reside in the worlds that take on psychedelia, progressive elements, and just aspects that make transport you to another world altogether virtually without even trying. It tends to be the former, though, that I find myself immersed in for all that it can bring to the table and how wondrously fleshed out its scene has become in recent years between all the choices and different worlds to pick from; it feels like there’s never an end to glory. But, it’s the progressive nature of rock that’s always begging to be given the instrumental treatment, but few bands seem to approach for reasons I can’t even begin to imagine. With their first album, Behind the RedGiant sought to change that with an effort that’s more than worthy of the limelight for this scenario.

A key part of any instrumental work that is always in play is the matter of keeping the listener engaged for there aren’t any lyrics to attach oneself to or voice to guide anyone through the music – nothing but the unpredictable flow of our thoughts to bring the music’s vision to our minds. It requires particular talent in order to make such a voiceless performance entertaining right from the beginning, and it’s from the first track alone that it becomes clear Behind the RedGiant more than know what they’re doing. There’s so much spirit and adventurous whimsy sewn into every given moment of the eight tracks of “How Far Is Far Away?” with there even sometimes being a sporadic burst of what feels like improv to make what’s an already incredibly lively and exquisite performance feel all the more frenetic and captivating even as the riffs and light psychedelia come together beautifully in every given minute. Undoubtedly, though, it has to be the progressive nature of the very sound of Behind the RedGiant that draws the listener deeper into the experience. Not often enough does a band with even a slight leaning towards the progressive territories take an instrumental route but it’s every given facet of all that “How Far Is Far Away?” brings to the table that I cannot help but find myself falling in love with for their achieve everything from what many would expect out of a more “typical” progressive listen and something that takes a different angle like what we have here. From the rising melodies to the hooks that are laden throughout the entirety of the album to just how fresh and interesting it all feels, there’s no way for me to look at this creation and not feel like Behind the RedGiant have started down a path that can only be deemed as fascinating right out of the gate.

I don’t think is the first step to us seeing more instrumental progressive acts out there throughout the underground even if they were to remain few and far between, but I simply can’t look at what this band has achieved for their first album and not find myself wishing for more purely because I don’t want this album to close. There’s so much wonder and beauty to be found within all that the band managed to bring forth for this layered, scrumptious effort to make “How Far Is Far Away?” instantly a work that I would suggest to any aspiring psychonaut other there for any number of reasons.

LISTEN to “How Far Is Far Away?” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Behind the RedGiant on Facebook here.