Flown Too Close To The Sun

Holy shit wow. Friends - I have something epic in store for you this week! We are going all out on metal with one of the most complete feeling, dynamically verbose, and heavy metal releases (and bands) in recent years that I can think of (yes, even over Lorna Shore). This week is all about Disembodied Tyrant, the one man band with the mastermind Blake Mullens. Blake does literally all guitar work, all instrumentation, all vocals, and produces the work.

FRIENDS - LET’S CHAT ABOUT METAL THIS WEEK. LET’S BANG THEM HEADS.

Hot Off The Press

Okay, this band is simply unreal and has just exploded onto the scene in 2024. With some releases in prior years, back to 2021, Disembodied Tyrant has hit a new stride in 2024. Their releases feature the beautiful mind of Blake Mullens and a masterful display of high tempo metal riffage juxtaposed with symphonic arrangements that feel epic and grandiose by nature that deliver the biggest and heaviest punch to the gut through varied breakdowns. These breakdowns hit valleys I didn’t recall could be hit with peaks providing a little bit of air above the water.

The peaks come in tracks the of “I, The Devourer” from The Poetic Edda EP! Expect to feel at peace through the staccato of the strings, then you have the echoed guitar licks. Look also to start of the newest EP and release, The Tower: Part One.

Why Should I Listen

If you prefer dynamic music in an effort to be moved and energized. If you prefer metal music that packs a punch. If you prefer music that bends, melds, and PUSHES the genre forward… LISTEN TO THIS BAND. This group brings the energy. Let’s discuss some of their releases, where you should start, why, and what my thoughts are on the releases more specifically. (I do not include their first EP, but feel free to also check out Eclipse, Pt. 1)

Record Breakdown and Recs ⬇️ 

Being relatively new, the sound produced from DT feels mature and put together already. They have some of their earlier tunes from 2021 that definitely don’t hit in the same way the newest releases do, but they still rock in their own way. With that, we are going to break down the tunes a bit more intently given there are a few EPs with no full album release.

Start Here 🎯 The Tower: Part One. This release is the entire reason I wrote this newsletter. This might be hands down the best metal release I’ve heard in years, from virtually all subgenres I frequent. I’ve never been so pulled, tense, and uncomfortable - but in the BEST way possible. This is obviously starting you off on a high note, given my regard for the release, but seriously this is too damn good. Dynamic. Huge. Tense.

EP rating - 9.9/10, fave track - Malphasian

Here Next 🥈 The Poetic Edda. This record has all of the sounds that I want out of this genre of music. Its emotional, its dynamic, it has orchestral moments. This release was when I first went, “Alright, I’m locked in boys.”. This album is heavy and fast, get ready for some high tempo insanity!

EP rating - 9.0/10, fave track - I, The Devourer

Wrap Up Here 🥉 The Divine Stigmata. I’ve tossed this in because it does feel like its necessary to show how they have progressed over the years. This record feels more traditional in its choices from what you would expect from black metal / death metal. This feels Lorna Shore in moments with echoes of Thy Art Is Murder.

EP rating - 8.0/10, fave track - Omenkiller

Thanks for tuning in, my friends! I do hope you all have enjoyed this week’s Finetuned. I’d appreciate any insights, opinions, thoughts, admiration, or otherwise. You can direct that towards my email or DM me on Twitter. ([email protected])

Please do share Finetuned with your friends & fam! I believe great music should be shared, cherished, and understood from all sorts of perspectives.

See you all in the next one! 🙌