Tidy Leopard is led by Queenstown, New Zealand, based musician Leo Titley. He is a drummer-turned-guitarist-turned-producer. His sound which combines elements of progressive metal and atmospheric ambiance incorporates all his recent music reincarnations. On his latest EP Galactic Bypass, Titley shows his chops on guitar, bass and drums as well as his programming expertise. The music, which can at times be intricate, contains moments of playful ambiance and serious progressive rock influences. Inspired by solo acts like David Maxim Micic and Sithu Aye as well as heavy sounds from bands like Opeth and Tool, this concept album created on a holiday and throughout the lockdown will transport you with its otherworldly and sci-fi themes. A journey through our galaxy, stars and back, Galactic Bypass has the ability to let us escape from reality much like how an involved video game or TV series can. This six-track collection is a ride through our planetary solar system. Keeping your mind suspended through greatly imaginative works, Titley wastes no little effort in keeping us entertained.
Galactic Bypass gets started with “In The Black” that sets off to a bouncy beat where the instrumentals come in leaning into a lush sound. The layers of instruments create a melodic and intricate soundscape. The music felt very ear-pleasing. Slowly the sounds grow in momentum. Eventually, the drums settle into the groove along with electronic riffs. The sounds feel very ambient and atmospheric. There was an Eastern flair to it that made the music feel more exotic. The jangly rhythms and shimmering guitars really made up this sound. Right off the bat, some rumbling bass and a revved drumming section starts off “Nerve Burner.” The sound is heavier with a more aggressive-based vibe here. The dark riffs run through the gamut on this track, making for an edgy and gritty listening experience. Off to a more stripped intro, slowly the sound of reverberating keys sounds off out of the stillness on “Caraya’s Soul.” The sound is sparse at first. Next, some bass joins in. Slowly some groovy guitars set the tone for this song. On “Fierfek,” some echo-y guitar riffs settle into this track toward the start. More explosive guitars create a wall of sound. The sound is loud and juts in and out of this song. Next, the drums and bass join in for a big demanding sound. The riffs are heavy and aggressive. This felt like a hard rock number with progressive metal influences. On “Stars’ End,” flaring riffs start out this track. Next, some melodic guitars arrive. The sound is atmospheric and ambient. Gradually, the rhythms become more upbeat with a driven drumming beat. The music just builds and builds. Eventually, the riffs become more hard-hitting and aggressive, feeding into the frenzy of the music. Radioactive guitar blazes in the forefront of “In The Blue” for an explosive sound. The heavy vibes become more adamant. As some synthetic strings add a lush overarching vibe, this seemed to be an epic way to finish this album with this ambient yet expressive closer. Mood and ambiance play a huge part in this undertaking. Once you close your eyes and let the music wash over you, you may begin to see a movie beginning to play in your head. Everyone may envision something different as everyone’s background and experiences vary. What everyone may similarly agree on is Titley’s ability as a musician. Progressive rock being a musicians’ music, Titley has all the technical aspects to this recording down pat. The smooth transitions and intricate chord progressions make this a seamless listening experience. Everything from the riffs to grooves all came together into one effective whole. He shows a whole lot of potential here. This album proved to be a good introduction to Titley’s sound and I look forward to hearing more.
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