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THE SEQUENCE OF
PRIME : VIRION
... ATTENTION PRESS :
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PURCHASE A HARD COPY • 1 copy of Virion including full color 4 panel artwork, clear jewel case with double sided tray card and 100% pure uncompressed audio. • 1" round Virion button • 4"x6" postcard with a custom note written specifically to you • 5 download cards to share Virion with whoever you like ORDER FAST AND YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE ON OF THE LAST REMAINING COPIES OF INCHOATE IV: THE REVENANT FOR FREE! USA
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REVIEWS: When not designing logos for top metal
magazine websites (TeethOfTheDivine.com) by day,
Kansas boy Brandon Duncan records music by night under
the TSOP moniker, specializing in a doom-tinged brand
of electronic-enhanced thrash that never removes its
black boot from the listener’s throat. Virion is an
epic, lyrically frightening concept album about how a
single, tiny, infectious microbe (for example, a
virion like HIV) can upend massive organisms and whole
universes. In other words, this dark meditation on
mortality offers deadly riffs and programmed beats
that make Ministry’s Al Jourgensen sound like a wuss.
Bask in the eco-apocalyptic horror of “Backlit” at
your own risk. And whatever you do, don’t spin
instrumental track “Icosahedron” after sunset. The
crushing drum solo will ice your blood. Download at
thesequenceofprime.com. ★★★★★ What can't Brandon Duncan do??? He's
an ace graphic designer, musician and
producer/engineer. This project is proof. Agoraphobic
Nosebleed's half-human/half-robot vibe + shredding
thrash/death riffs + smart lyrics + batshit-crazy
vocals = The Sequence of Prime. It's freaky, it's
fresh and it's free at the band's Bandcamp. Whereas the riffs cement the many
seams of the Virion monster and skillfully programmed
drumming greases the joints, it’s Duncan’s
swallowed-mike vocals that give the beast power to
assail and raze and imbue it with unbound ferocity. It’s amazing when you take a blind
chance on an album, only to have it lovingly rip your
head off. This is exactly what happened to me with
Virion, the second self-released album by Plainville,
Kansas artist Brandon Duncan, who records under the
nom de guerre of The Sequence of Prime. I stumbled
across his website on the recommendation of another
metal writer, and upon several listens, I can tell you
Virion is without a doubt one of the most original,
incredible, and downright vitriolic records I have
heard in a very long time. This is my wet dream. Akin to a mad scientist, Duncan strings together bits of doom, grind, industrial and thrash to create an absolute monster of an album. While Virion teeters more frequently between thrash and grind fundamentals, it never settles solely for one above the other. Though it can be difficult to place precise musical comparisons, subtle hints of bands like Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Slayer and Ministry creep into focus from time to time, but not too often. These songs are rife with raucous riffing (see “Cenozoic Anoxia“), pounding programmed drums (“Icosahedron”) and unhinged discordant vocals that are sometimes strongly reminiscent of Aphex Twin’s “Come To Daddy”. Like any Frankenstein, some may view
Virion as nothing more than a pile of parts sewn
together without a thought of the consequences (an
abomination, if you will), while others will see it
for what it is; a beautiful and brilliant work of art
that requires a bit of time and patience to fully
understand and appreciate. The music is a mix of metal subgenres,
with elements of thrash, black metal, and industrial
coming together to create a chaotic sound that really
fits the subject matter perfectly. Duncan’s vocals
tend to vary between creepy spoken word and panicked
screaming, the guitar tone is heavily distorted and
gritty, and the production is a bit raw without
sounding like utter shit. The industrial elements are
sprinkled here and there, adding a bit of flavor
without overpowering the rest of the instruments. What always captures my attention are
the lyrics to any conceptual piece, so when a band
takes pride in rising above the vacancy of a
simplistic or boring storyline I’m always more
impressed. When a band also undertakes the daunting
task of claiming to want to awaken our senses and
scare us out of self-submission I want some clear
back-up for that. Duncan’s proclivity to stir the fear
in your head is achieved tenfold on Virion. The CD is
a lesson in the catastrophes awaiting mankind within
the veil of its own manic hubris. This is a progressive album very hard
to classify into a genre. Those liking experiments and
a rather chaotic playing which from time to time
offers you some cleaner part and then it just pummels
you, might like this recording. The overall vibe is
somewhere between being "nervous" and "insane".
Initial impressions may be a bit confused but the
patience can pay off. It is quite impossible to listen
to "Virion" without succumbing to it fully. Then you
might fall in love with it... Plainville, KS. I had to look it up on
a map, but this town is home to The Sequence of
Prime mastermind Brandon Duncan. Virion
was written, produced, programmed, and sung completely
by Duncan. it is a masterful and dark piece that
reminds me of Ministry and is tortured just enough to
be intriguing but not trite. The thing thrashes and
while it could be considered lo-fi at times, it adds a
layer of organic dirt that shiny production just lacks
these days. He stands alone and does everything by
himself : from programming to playing and singing. And
I might add he is a fresh wind going through the
thrash and industrial scene. Not just a mere summation
of riffs but great songs. Think SYL, think Slayer
meets Ministry and Agoraphobic Nosebleed. ‘Virion’ is
the second effort of Brandon and actually is a concept
album where a virus is destroying not just worlds but
galaxies! Rarely it happens that an album can take you
in. It’s raw, it’s loosely arranged, and it’s
primitive but very honest and innovative with a vocal
achievement many will be jealous of. |
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Purchase 2007
album The Sequence of Prime
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 Written, recorded mixed and mastered at StullStudio. ... The Sequence of Prime is Brandon Duncan - Guitar, Bass, Programming Vocals & Visuals ... Contact: bd@corporatedemon.com |
