Hailing from New Haven, CT, USA comes Earthside. A band centered around four musicians who definitely know how to write solid progressive music. Eight songs are on display and each one show a different side of the band. Four of which have vocalists, and the rest are instrumentals. The Closest I've Come is the opening track, and at just over the eight minute mark, definitely shows you the band's modern progressive metal chops. From atmospheric layered strings to clean guitar arpeggios and gentle played guitar chords, to full on progressive metal that while complex fits each part perfectly. Mob Mentality is hands down one of the best songs I have ever heard from a band that I had never heard of before. From my understanding this song was a huge undertaking, and a process of songwriting that took years, not months or days to become a reality. To top it off, the seriously underrated Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust takes the mic on this song. I know for MetalReviews readers, his band is probably not one of your favorites, but he is definitely one of the best singers to come out from that era in which they started becoming famous. He does more than just an above average job, he is downright amazing, making you feel every note that is song. From the softer opening to the more aggressive parts as the song reaches its climax. The song impressively also features the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, which in itself is pretty amazing. The fact that each of these instruments are not sampled, and real, only enhances this amazing composition. Which would make the title track which is the next, a difficult song to follow such an emotional rush that was Mob Mentality. Luckily the vocals on this song, comes from the equally emotional and dynamic Daniel Tompkins of Tesseract. This has a definite modern progressive feel, fits with Tompkin's vocals from the last Tesseract disc, Altered State. A completely different song overall, but at the same time you know its the same band playing the music behind the voice. Entering The Light, unfortunately does no do much for me musically in its five minute plus length, after the two songs before it, it is kind of let down, but at the same time not a horrible song either(actually quite relaxing to say the least!). Skyline is another of the instrumentals and is definitely up there with the opening track. A nearly eight and a half minute juggernaut that definitely highlights what is great about Earthside. Strong musicianship from all parties involved, each individual feeding off one another to make a cohesive song that takes you on a musical journey you were not even sure you wanted to go on at first! Crater features a softer yet still dynamic performance from Bjorn “Speed” Strid of Soilwork. One of his most dynamic and emotional clean sung vocals, I think in his entire career(Though Antidotes In Passing from Soilwork's Part 2 of The Living Infinite is right up there!). Three great vocalists so far, three amazing overall tracks! The Ungrounding is definitely one of the heavier tracks, and an instrumental. Again the band knows exactly what they are doing with each of the instruments, and it never gets boring! The final track a nearly tweleve minute features the vocals of Eric Zirlinger(Face The King, ex-Seer), a singer I had not heard of. His vocals while emotional, were not even close for me to being on the same page as the three previous vocalists. Not to say the song is bad, but the vocalist, was just not my first choice.

Cinematic Rock with touches of Progressive Metal, definitely is a great way to describe Earthside. Expect to be taken on a musical journey, and be prepared for the unexpected, and enter with an open mind, for the reward will be one of the biggest surprises of 2015.

Watch Mob Mentality's video HERE
Listen and preview the disc HERE>