UMUR "DMNSTRTN" is the debut EP by German post rock/metal act Long Distance Calling. The EP was independently released in 2006. There are four songs on the EP which has a playing time of 31:14 minutes. So lots of quantity for the money and I can assure you that there are lots of quality too.

The music is very melodic instrumental guitar dominated post rock/metal. I´ll mostly put Long Distance Calling in the post rock camp but there are heavier parts on the EP that could be catagorized as post metal. As mentioned the music is fully instrumental but there are some really atmospheric voice samples in the music which work to great effect and add some variation to the sound. The album starts with the song "Fire in the Mountain" which blew me away the first time I listened to it and it still does. Powerful and melodic. "The Metulsky Curse" is also a great track but I think the quality drops slightly on the EP´s weakest track "Red Bug vs. Black Bird". It´s a decent track but nothing more. The 11:06 minute long "The Very Last Day" closes the EP in great style though.

The compositions are generally of high quality but it´s the musicianship that puts the icing on the cake. These guys are skilled musicians and they have some great adventurous ideas. I especially enjoy the melodic guitars but also the rather busy drumming by Janosch Rathmer. His use of double bass drums for fills is very charming. Not very subtle but definitely enjoyable. That man has roots in metal drumming that´s for sure.

The production is excellent on the EP. Clean, rather polished and professional.

All in all "DMNSTRTN" is a very good debut release by Long Distance Calling and while it´s just short of the 4th star IMO it´s very recommendable if you enjoy melodic and polished post rock/metal. There are definitely some excellent parts on the EP. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.