Arcade Messiah - New Release 24th November - Free (pay what you want) On Bandcamp

[powerjuggler]

Hi,
This album was released this week and its free to download....
Arcade Messiah is the debut release from John Bassett (the singer, songwriter and producer of UK Progressive Rock Band KingBathmat)
Arcade Messiah combines elements of Metal, Stoner, Doom, Prog, Math rock, and ambient post rock into seven instrumental songs.
From November 24th its been released as a Free (pay what you want) digital download on bandcamp at https://arcademessiah.bandcamp.com/releases there is also a CD available

Arcade-Messiah-CD-Coversmal.jpg

Arcade Messiah - Arcade Messiah (2014) Stereohead Records

The tracklist is as follows

1. Sun Exile (05:35)
2. Your Best Line Of Defence Is Obscurity (06:48)
3. Traumascope (05:23)
4. Aftermath (02:52)
5. Everybody Eating Everyone Else (8:00)
6. The Most Popular Form Of Escape (04:56)
7. Roman Resolution (08:50)

http://www.arcademessiah.com

[Geoff O'Donoghue]

I'd like to use this old thread to plug the latest Arcade Messiah release - The Host. I have been aware of the associated John Bassett project KingBathmat since it first started up but, to be honest, I haven't heard any material from them that has taken me over the line into being a fan.
Bassett seems to be a talented and prolific artist - writing, recording and releasing material as KingBathmat (prog), Sacred Ape (electronic rock), John Bassett (singer/songwriter) as well as Arcade Messiah which began as an instrumental prog metal project.
I sampled some of the first Aracade Messiah release when it came out (2014) but I wasn't engaged. In September this year Bassett announced the release of The Host via KingBathmat's Bandcamp email list and advised that all future releases of his music would be under the Arcade Messiah name.
Intrigued, I started streaming The Host on Bandcamp and not long after I was totally hooked. I bought the complete Arcade Messiah digital discography (The Host is pay what you want) so I could play The Host on my iPod. I've got it set to repeat albums and by now I think I've listened to it over a hundred times and I'm still not sick of it. Bassett has skilfully consolidated his disparate musical projects into Arcade Messiah, incorporating the prog of KingBathmat, the electronics of Sacred Ape and the solo singer/songwriter aspects while managing to retain the prog metal that the project originated with.

https://arcademessiah.bandcamp.com/track/diagnosis-2

If you like The Host I would also recommend the two associated releases (EPs?/mini albums?) Diagnosis and Hell By Default.
I'm still mostly indifferent to the first three Aracade Messiah releases with the notable exception of Bassett's cover of the Aphrodite's Child song The Four Horsemen (on the Arcade Messiah II CD). Bassett's arrangement transforms this six minute song into an almost nineteen minute prog metal epic building from a single opening guitar line into a wall of guitars at its height. It's over the top, it's overlong and I love it.

https://arcademessiah.bandcamp.com/t...-four-horsemen

[Top Cat]

Thanks for posting.
I just listened to the Host and it's quite good. Lots of earworms and I love the sound of the mix, it has a live feel to it.
My only criticism is the vocal is buried way too low in the mix. The vocals have good tone and should be much more present to the front.
Turn them up Mr Aracde..!!!

[Geoff O'Donoghue]

^ I agree with your assessment re the vocals in the mix TC. In fact the only real drawback I have with the album is that the mix could be improved and, for me listening on an iPod, the programmed cymbals are sometimes a bit wearing.