Top 5 Sci-Fi Albums w/ Tanner of Madrost

July 21, 2017

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In this week’s Friday Guest List, Tanner from Californian death/thrash hybrids Madrost lets us in on his Top 5 Albums That’ll Give You That Sci-Fi Brain Fry!

How’s everything going? Your new album The Essence of Time Matches No Flesh has quite an obvious sci-fi theme running through it, are all the songs linked to a single story?

Hello Toilet ov Hell, first of all, thank you for giving us the opportunity to be heard to a new audience that may have not heard of us before. The Essence of Time Matches No Flesh is actually the name of the artwork that Tony Koehl himself named when delivering the final draft to us and loved it so much that we used it as our album title. The songs are not linked into a single story, it’s more of individual stand alone stories as far as the lyrics are concerned.

Just what the hell is going on in the scene depicted on the new album cover?

That is a great question as we wanted an album cover that let the listener make their own interpretations of it instead of what has become so rapid with today’s metal covers that spells out everything the listener sees. Simply put, we wanted a cover that made people think. From what Tony Koehl has told us about his interpretation of the cover, the tombstones represent the fact that we are all going to the same place when time runs out for us individually, and the red image coming from the back of the massive monolith represents the matter of flesh itself. Obviously this is from the artist’s point of view. However, we are always interested in hearing what the album cover represents to the listener at hand.

Your sound seems to combine a mix of thrash, tech, and death. If you had to verbally describe your sound to someone, what would you dub your style?

Honestly, at this point we just tell a new listener that we are a metal band. We do not like putting ourselves in boxes (as cliché as it sounds). There are no rules or boundaries when writing for this band. Whatever comes out is what we put on the record, it is too difficult to describe our sound any other way for us.

Any tour plans coming up to support the album release? Who would be on your dream tour bill?

Yes, we are indeed working on a tour that should be coming up this October. Our dream tour bill would have to be opening for a band like Rush or Iron Maiden. Those bands have influenced us tremendously to this point in our career.

Alright, well let’s get into your topic for today which is 5 Albums That Give You That Sci-Fi Brain Fry!

5. Scanner – Mental Reservation (1995)

Now I know a lot of people will criticize this one, but to me this is Scanner’s best work. Although Hypertrace is the pinnacle album for others, Mental Reservation I always felt was out-shined even though the song writing is absolutely killer.

4. Vektor – Outer Isolation (2011)

Need I say anymore? This album to me is so dynamic that it doesn’t even feel like an album, it feels like an experience. Watch that cosmic cortex as it takes you away into space itself.

3. Crystal Age – Far Beyond Divine Horizons (1995)

Now this record is one that I have not heard very many people talk about but this record is awesome. The song “Star Destroyer” alone is enough to fry your brain and watch it turn to mush. Great riffs and a more treble end sounding record makes this receive my seal of approval.

2. Obliveon – From This Day Forward (1990)

This album to me still blows my mind knowing it was recorded when it was. The playing is unbelievable, and with the songwriting it’s a win-win. The atmosphere on this record alone is what separates it from all the other records out there.

1. Nocturnus – Thresholds (1992)

This is my absolute favorite sci-fi record period. From top to bottom its crushing dynamic power (with keyboards mind you), pulls me in to a world in which I cannot explain. Songs like “Gridzone” and “Climate Controller” make this album mind blowing.

That’s it for this week. If you missed hearing the band when we premiered a track last month you should definitely check it out right now. If you dig the sort of prog-infused thrash of Vektor or razor-sharp riffing of Revocation, you won’t be disappointed! You can also keep up to date with their tour info and other news via Madrost’s Facebook and/or Twitter pages.