Portland musician David Vitello, performing under the moniker Six Migration, unveils his latest release Six Migrations, a progressive metal EP that resonates with the weight of personal history and musical evolution. Vitello originally started making music in the mid-90s, and gradually found his way back a few years ago. Drawing from decades of experience, Vitello’s compositions reflect a journey through various genres, culminating in this intense and introspective work.
The EP opens with “Demi Gods,” setting the tone with menacing guitar riffs and Vitello alternating between a guttural scream and impassioned vocals. Although every song takes a number of emotional twists and turns, the dark, aggressive atmosphere is constant throughout. Tracks like “Humans” and “Animals” delve into complex time signatures and dynamic shifts, while “Ghosts” starts off as the most traditional metal song here before delving into a dream-like state that even culminates with the mandolin, perhaps the most incongruous instrument for the genre.
Nevertheless, everything here blends expertly and it all fits together like an intricately and tightly woven tapestry. Vitello’s influences are evident, with nods to bands like Meshuggah and Gojira, yet his sound remains distinct, marked by a unique balance of in-your-face power and introspection. Six Migrations is a challenging and brilliant, emotionally-unrelenting EP that will definitely appeal to open-minded fans of the genre.
