Release Date April 17th, 2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Fusion, Instrumental, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal
Origin United States
Born in the Windy City, the instrumental powerhouse known as Aziola Cry has been grinding since the mid-2000s, carving a name for themselves with a cold, calculated brand of tech-heavy prog. After dropping "Ellipsis" and "Ghost Conversations," they vanished into the shadows for over a decade before storming back in 2021 with "The Ironic Divide." This trio doesn't need a frontman to tell a story; they let the strings and skins do the talking. Now, they return under the wing of 7D Media to drop their latest collection of complex, mind-bending compositions.
"Dysphoria Ritual" is a claustrophobic descent into the mind of someone locking the world out. This record is built on the interplay between Jason Blake’s twelve-string warr guitar and Mike Milaniak’s traditional six-string, creating a wall of sound that’s like a cage closing in. It’s a bleak, mechanical journey that mirrors the descent into isolation, skipping the fluff and going straight for the cerebral jugular.
The musicianship here is disgusting in the best way possible. Tommy Murray’s drumming isn’t just keeping time; it’s a rhythmic assault that anchors the shifting gears of the guitars. You can hear the tension in every bar of "Denial Patterns" and "The Delusion Complex," where the technical proficiency is used to create a suffocating atmosphere instead of just showing off. It’s a grim, calculated execution of instrumental metal that values the dark space between the notes as much as the notes themselves.
The production is top-tier, courtesy of Steven Gillis and the mastering legend Ted Jensen, making sure every pick scrape and cymbal hit sounds lethal. The artwork by Travis Smith gives you exactly what you’re in for: a visual representation of the mental confinement found within the music. There’s no light at the end of this tunnel, only the relentless precision of a trio that understands how to weaponize their instruments to evoke a genuine sense of unease and detachment.
This isn't an easy listen but a cold, hard look at a psyche falling apart, translated through some of the most intricate playing you'll hear this year. While the lack of vocals might scare off the mainstream crowd, any metalhead who worships at the altar of technicality will find a lot of meat on these bones. It’s a demanding, high-IQ beatdown that proves these guys are still masters of their craft.
Damage done @: 7.5
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