Then why aren’t I enjoying this more?

Maybe of course it because I’m generally not a huge instrumental metal fan as frankly the likes of Pelican, Don Cab, Dysrhythmia, Canvas Solaris and such, despite their ability and skill, bore me to tears. However, if I were to listen to an instrumental metal band, it would be Scale the Summit as their shimmering, yet focused, if somewhat repetitive textures offer something more than either tech noodling or vocal-less post rock and droning.

The dynamics of instrumental metal are so important when trying to convey an entire album of material that lacks the emotion of vocals. And that’s where a band like Scale the Summit simply don’t endear themself to me despite the music-which swell and cascades with some sumptuous harmonies and layering. For example the shifts that occur in personal favorite “The Great Plains”, while well done, just does not seem complete without some sort of vocal accompaniment to help convey the shift. Amid the glimmering hues, you can hear a lot of Steve Vai and Eric Johnson in the more progressive solo work as heard on “Dunes” and “City in the Sky”, but I still stick to my breezier Life In Your Way comparison-just check out opener “Bloom” and “Age of the Tide”, I even here some Between the Buried and Me in there (“Glacial Planet”) – all of it gorgeous. But to me, it’s still slightly empty because of the lack of vocals. To their credit though, Scale the Summit keep things relatively short and too the point without wandering into post rock/shoegazer realms with only 7 minute closer “Giants” veering in that direction.

Again, if forced to listen to instrumental metal, I would most certainly pick Scale the Summit as my first choice, they do have a certain elegance that melds progressive and melody together that’s is rather enchanting, but on the whole I still want my vocals.

This video features the guitar work behind the release. Founding members and co-guitarists Chris Letchford and Travis Levrier are graduates of Los Angeles’ venerable Musicians Institute. Letchford and Levrier also build

their own custom guitars.

The track listing for Carving Desert Canyons, produced, recorded and mixed by Tom Beaujour at Nuthouse Recording in Hoboken, N.J., is:

1. Bloom

2. Sargasso Sea (streaming now at myspace.com/scalethesummit)

3. The Great Plains

4. Dunes

5. Age Of The Tide

6. Glacial Planet

7. City In The Sky

8. Giants