Dysrhythmia, an instrumental progressive metal trio (g/b/d) from the US, is without doubt one of those bands I would prefer watching live over listening to on cd. The clever compositions, the powerful rhythms, and foremost the ever-changing melodies form the basics of the ultimate live experience one should be able to witness in Europe in the fall of 2006. Listening to the new album ‘Barriers and Passages’ requires lots of focus and dedicated concentration. There’s so much going on here that the listener is blessed with the fact that the ten tracks only span little over 37 minutes.

When you’re finally able to enjoy the album, ravaging along in the back ground, there are a few sections that keep drawing the attention, in a negative way that is.

The somewhat clinical and industrial sound of ‘An Ally To Comprehension’ for example stands in too big a contrast with the overall warm sound that characterizes the production. The biggest effort the band made is the way in which all the three instruments really seem to supplement each other. There is some soloing here and there, but all serving the unity. Recommended, not only for instrumental prog metal fans, but also for anyone looking for an ultimate live experience.