Lye By Mistake - 'Fea Jur'

Instrumental metal album with a jazz-fusion base that astounds the listener with displays of technical brilliance.

Instrumental music is a gamble in this fickle modern music scene. Many assume that this style of music is made up of wank-heavy egomaniacs looking to show off more than compose a coherent piece of meaningful art. For those who still believe that there is life left in the genre, there has been a lot to be excited about lately. With quality albums released this year by Karl Sanders and Animals As Leaders, there seems to be fresh blood flowing into the veins of those who openly embrace instrumental music.

Lye By Mistake keeps the blood supply running steady with Fea Jur, a grandiose spectacle of instrumental chaos. After losing vocalist Tony Saputo, the band decided to soldier on without vocals, releasing a sophomore album that could be considered a fresh start for the St. Louis trio. While their skills could not be denied in the past, breaking free of the sub-standard harsh vocals has let loose a level of artistic recklessness equivalent to the seismic outburst from an atomic bomb.

Lye By Mistake channels the quirkiness of Psyopus, the jazzy interludes of latter-day Cynic, and the progressiveness of Rush and King Crimson. All of this is done with the grace and dexterity of a mature and forward-thinking band. While there are a few times where their music will be reminiscent of other bands, Lye By Mistake doesn’t simply copy and paste their sound from random sources. The band molds and shapes compositions that aim for the element of surprise.

The instrumental work has a big part in keeping the listener guessing what will be next. The title track and “Vanguard To Nowhere” stuns the listener with spectacular musicianship. The best part is that the songs never descend into endless masturbatory wanking; every note has its place in the grand scheme of things. The bass adds a jazz-fused dynamic that is front and center in the mix, the drums have a warm, non-mechanical feel to them, and the guitar is the glue that holds the creative madness together, with continuous soloing and wild melodies being the norm.

Of course, an instrumental album can’t get by on endless solos alone. The songwriting aspect is as important, if not more so, than the musical side. Fea Jur finds a balance between the two, especially on the low-key “The Condition” and aggressive “Stag,” but the songwriting does miss the mark on occasion. While closer “Money Eating Mary (Karaoke Version)” uses keyboard flourishes and a Spanish flamenco breakdown to add variety, the band bites off more than they can chew by going past the ten-minute mark.

In a day and age where bands are taking the safe route in order to appease both record labels and a loyal fan base, Lye By Mistake goes against the trends. Fea Jur is not a metal album in the traditional sense, but for those tired of monotonous growls, drums triggered to hell, and tame one-note breakdowns, Fea Jur is a gust of creative energy that will leave a mark on those looking for a mind-bending display of technical mastery.