Metal Underground.com

Struggles and setbacks were a common occurrence for Anuryzm on the road to releasing “Worm’s Eye View.” The band has had several false starts and quick hiatuses since they formed in 2003. Guitarist and founder John Bakhos moved halfway across the world multiple times, while Anuryzm got pulled along in every which way. Eventually, they were able to find time to sit down and compete “Worm’s Eye View,” which is a heightened take on progressive metal. Some debut album quirks are ever-present, but “Worm’s Eye View” is a rounded affair topped off by a virtuosic performance from Bakhos.

Anuryzm landed a big-time session player to help out with “Worm’s Eye View.” Ex-Opeth drummer Martin Lopez offers his talent, as well as his prestige, to carry this music with his fluid, jazzy style. Lopez has been laying low ever since leaving Opeth, but with this and Soen, he’s looking to get back into the scene. At times during the last two songs, the band has a resemblance to “Ghost Reveries”-era Opeth. It’s probably no coincidence that “Breaking The Ballot” and “Where Mockery Falls” are the best tracks.

The band isn’t a knock-off Opeth though. They tend to have more power metal influences than death metal with their progressive direction. Other than the deep growls from vocalist Nadeem Bibby and some of the riffs, their music is much more uptempo. A good portion of that has to do with the synth work, which is transplanted in the background of most of the songs. They cause a mixed reaction, usually working well in the acoustic breaks, but siphoning the power out of the more rigid sections.

Though the more resourceful songs come together when the band lets time flesh out, there is room for a few shorter, straightforward jams. A sample of an assassination attempt begins the title track, which burns off into a planted attack that should get fists pumping. “Killing Time” transplants a thrashy feel to the album, though it finds room for a tuneful acoustic break, with a wonderful bass solo driving the song to its inevitable aggressive ending.

These musicians are tacticians with their instruments, striving for new ways to turn the dial up on the technical front. If there were almost no flaws to be located in “Worm’s Eye View,” it would be with the caliber of musicianship. “Almost” is the key term, as “Wide Awake” stumbles at the end with some off-timed drumming that feels like it was superimposed onto the track from a totally different recording. The songs are structured skin-tight, so hearing something like that is hard to forget.

“Worm’s Eye View” is nothing if not a fascination for fans of Lopez, as well as the heavier side of progressive metal. There is truly compelling music to be discovered, especially in the second half of the album. No one track is bad to the point of vomit-inducing, though the gems shine brighter than other tracks. Anuryzm has clawed their way towards this point, a sign of years of uncertainty and uphill battling to get to the release of “Worm’s Eye View.” Their debut is an indicator of vast potential that has the possibility of exceeding any expectations.