Fracture Point

Phoenix metal band Fracture Point sounds like a mastodon stampede, but instead of directionless destruction, this beast intelligently winds its way through a well-constructed maze of down-tuned guitars, burly bass lines, screaming solos, and tricky timing changes. In the "sounds like" category, they're akin to bands like Lamb of God (largely because, like LoG singer Randy Blythe, FP singer Ben Rosputni deftly alternates between sickeningly guttural vocals and pointed, upper-register screams), Dillinger Escape Plan (with whom FP shares a fondness for unconventional song structures), and Tool (like Tool, FP exhibits stunning musicianship on the part of every player, often stretching across epic songs riddled with doomy tribal beats and crunchy chord progressions). One listen to the song "Manic Aggression," with its sinister, roiling bass lines and bludgeoning power chords, and it's clear that Fracture Point has a visceral connection with metal, and knows how to pick the bones of the genre to a glowing sheen. By the same turn, they're not paradigm purists, either — Inherit the Downfall stretches the boundaries of metal, from the jazz-infused instrumental "J69" to "Last Minute" — which pummels the listener with lurching rhythms and sledgehammer-heavy guitars for five minutes before creeping the listener out with a hauntingly beautiful piano melody for the last two. For those who like their metal served heavy, but with a side of intellect, Fracture Point hits the mark with brutal force.