Psyopus is one of those technical grind acts that simply baffles and confuses most listeners. There’s no denying the technical skill provided by the guitar prowess of Chris Arp. And the drumming has always been up to par with the various skinsmen the band has had in the past, including the phenomenal Lee Fisher of Commit Suicide. The problem that’s plagued the band’s acceptance by a lot of the metal community has been its spastic song writing. To put it lightly, a single Psyopus song makes the most random, chaotic, old school Dillinger Escape Plan song look like Green Day. Some of us don’t mind this bizarre song writing, but it’s open to criticism nonetheless.

Now 2007 comes along, and after re-releasing its previous Ideas of Reference on Metal Blade and acquiring yet another new drummer in the form of Jon Cole, Psyopus unleashes its label debut with Our Puzzling Encounters Considered. Psyopus is at the top of its game, not only in technicality but also in song writing. Don’t be fooled; the writing is still a cacophony of utter audio dementia, but there is a definite structure and- *gasp*- even melody to the insane workings of Psyopus. At the first few listens, one will be tempted to dismiss the album outright at the dissonant chaos, but stick with it like someone sticks with Gorguts‘ Obscura. Slowly but surely the song structure and melody reveals itself, and yes it is there. You’re not going crazy. Psyopus‘ style of song writing is simply the most esoteric beast in the metal community. After sitting through Our Puzzling Encounters Considered and digesting it, the listener is treated to an amalgam of technical metal that can only be described as the product of Switzerland’s Amok channeling the abnormal riffing of Human Remains with a hint of Spastic Ink’s sense of fusion. The sound is intense, manic, and destructive while actually sounding unique and downright disturbed.

Psyopus has struck its most accomplished release with Our Puzzling Encounters Considered. The album is Psyopus‘ own Lucid Interval, to put it another way (not in sound, but in the sense that it’s the peak of their own chaotic ability). It’s not for everyone, but at this point it really doesn’t matter. You’re either going to love or hate Psyopus, and for those of us into this lunatic grind it’s pure crack. One word of warning, though: be cautious of the hidden track or more specifically what leads up to it. I’ll leave it at that.

Written By: Necro-tron