Basick Records
The instrumental progressive-metal movement has never been as thrilling as it has been in the past year or so. Groups like
Animals As Leaders and
Scale the Summit have proven that vocals don't necessarily have to be part of the equation in order for a metal album to be compelling. Heck, these artists have actually proven that including vocals can sometimes even hinder a great metal record! Just think about how many records you've heard recently that are weighed down by weak singers.
One of the acts leading the instrumental metal charge is a English musician named Paul Antonio Ortiz who records under the name
Chimp Spanner. His love for soundtracks, use of seven and eight-string guitars and ambient keyboards are the keys to Chimp Spanner's success.
All Roads Lead Here, the project's latest EP, serves as the perfect introduction to Ortiz's forward-thinking yet never overwrought songwriting style. Noisecreep has been playing the EP pretty much non-stop since it was released in February.
OK, it's obvious we're fanboys for Ortiz and Chimp Spanner, so Noisecreep asked him to take part in our 'Five Albums That Changed My Life' series. Just when we thought he couldn't get any cooler, check out the '80s soundtrack he included in his list. If we weren't already married (and straight)...