The Space Between Home and Today

Back in 1988, there were plenty of naysayers who seriously doubted that death metal would be around 17-years later. It was too harsh, too extreme, too limited, too much of an inside joke. But death metal survived, maintaining a small but enthusiastic cult following — and inevitably, some headbangers have set out to sidestep death metal's musical limitations and broaden its horizons. Bands like At the Gates, Age of Ruin, In Flames, and Callenish Circle have accomplished that through a style known as melodic death metal, which is closely related to symphonic black metal. But on The Space Between Home and Today, Biolich takes an expansive approach to death metal that doesn't involve the melodic death metal/symphonic black metal aesthetic in any way, shape, or form. Recorded in 2004, this experimental EP finds Biolich combining death metal with everything from avant-garde rock and noise-rock to ambient electronica — an interesting combination of influences, and one that works more often than not. Biolich has the usual death metal ingredients: insanely fast tempos, crushing density, and an extreme vocal style (specifically, the deep, guttural, demonic-sounding growl that death metal is known for). But the EP also has a progressive, artsy vibe that sets it apart from most of the death metal recordings that were made in 2004. In fact, the trippy, atmospheric, seven-minute instrumental "Ikon Sumo" really falls outside of death metal; the tune is more electronica than anything. Nonetheless, most of The Space Between Home and Today is relevant to death metal in some respect, and while this EP is mildly inconsistent and uneven, it has more ups than downs, and is worth checking out if one is seeking something unorthodox from death metal.