Guitar-bending instrumental group Polyphia formed in the quiet suburban landscape of Plano, Texas in 2011. Somewhere between blisteringly fast metal guitar god territory and pure pop, the band came up with a sound that was technically brilliant but still managed to include catchy pop hooks with its face-melting guitar soloing. The band initially consisted of dual lead guitarists Tim Henson and Scott LePage, bassist Clay Gober, and drummer Brandon Burkhalter. They released two EPs, 2011’s Resurrect (their only recording to feature vocals) and 2013’s Inspire, before recording their 2014 full-length debut, Muse. Funds for the recording and production of Muse were raised by the band in an online fundraising campaign to which fans generously donated. The self-released album charted in the Top 100 of Billboard’s album chart, and Equal Vision signed Polyphia, reissuing the album in 2015. By the time the album was reissued, Burkhalter had been temporarily replaced by new drummer Randy Methe; however, Burkhalter rejoined in 2015 before leaving again in 2016. Polyphia’s second album, Renaissance, their first as a trio, appeared on Equal Vision in March of that year. Spearheaded by the lively single “40oz,” 2017’s six-track EP The Most Hated delivered a genre-defying blast of technical shredding that drew inspiration from jazz, R&B, electronic, and hip-hop. ~ Fred Thomas
MIKE FLIPS, NORD1KONE & SEIZE – “Life Cycles” Immerse in the Cosmic Groove of ‘Life Cycles’
Attention, aficionados of sound and rhythm! Ready your senses, as the music marvel of the decade has alighted upon our auditory realms. Prepare to be
