J-Man Deadfall are a young American progressive metal duo who are influenced heavily by the "djent" style of the genre. Although "djent" isn't usually identified as a standalone genre, this style of music based on downtuned, palm-muted guitar techniques played with math rock-influenced technicality has become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially in the prog metal and metalcore communities. Recent Berklee graduates Deadfall prove their chops with this debut EP, and their competency as musicians is sure to win over fans of instrumental prog metal. New Light does come across as a bit too monotonous and sterile to really capture my interest, but it's a promising start nonetheless.

The first thing that immediately stands out about this EP is the fantastic guitar and bass work from Eddie Kim and Sean Dusoe. These guys know how to execute riffs with precision and create mind-numbingly complex compositions, and listening to their technical prowess can be quite enjoyable. I also enjoy the occasionally melodic guitar lines from Eddie Kim - something I wish would be emphasized a bit further on Deadfall's future efforts. New Light tends to feel a bit monotonous at times due to the non-stop "chug-chug-chug" rhythm patterns, and a bit more variation will be key to the band's success. The somewhat-sterile production and programmed drums also drag down my enjoyment a bit. The programmed drums, while certainly competent and well-done, simply lack the emotion and feeling that a breathing human can provide. An actual sit-in drummer would've really helped give this EP a nice human touch.

New Light may not be the most successful prog metal release you'll ever hear, but it's a promising start for this talented young duo. Fans of "djent"-styled instrumental prog metal should find plenty to love from this EP. More emotional songwriting and diversity will be key to my satisfaction, but it is clear that Deadfall is capable of great things, and with a few small improvements I could see their next effort being something special. As far as New Light is concerned, I'll play my solid 3 star card here. This may not be an essential purchase, but it's a decent acquisition for fans of this style.

Time Signature Shade of inception...

Genre: djent

The debut release by the American act, Deadfall (whose members have Berklee backgrounds) is a solid and promising release, but not a perfect one.

The EP contains five tracks all of which emphasize groove and rhythmic complexity. Most of the guitar riffs are, true to the djent style, groovy and mind-boggling, and - as a bonus - there are several instances of overlaid clean guitars, which actually works very well. I think that the tracks are intelligently composed, although they may strike some as being a bit monotonous at times.

"New Light" is an instrumental release, and the drums are programmed, and I think that these two factors prevent the release from being 100% enjoyable. The drums sound a bit mechanical, and a live drummer definitely would change that. A vocalist would really enrich the overall listening experience and contribute and extra layer of melody (and would also decrease the experience of monotony that some listeners might have) - actually, every time I listen to the EP, I expect a singer to drop in with some soaring vocals and complex vocal melodies.

That is not to say that there is no melody on this release. A lot of the tracks are inherently melodic, and the closing track 'Utopia' has some nice lead guitar melodies and a solo, too (I hope that there will be more solos and guitar licks on future releases).

In all, I think this is a very strong debut release which showcases a lot of talent, and I certainly think that all the tunes on the EP are well put together and enjoyable to listen to - djent fans will love them.

This is a promising release and I expect a lot of good stuff from this band in the future.