It is amazing just how little innovation there has been in this appallingly labelled djent scene, so many bands doing exactly the same things in an identical manner and failing to move beyond the Meshuggah worship of bizarre time signatures and guitar theatrics; it is something a relief then that Ireland's Shattered Skies have shifted the goalposts a little with second EP Pianomation. Fronted by new track 'As The Sea Divides', the usual djent mischief is mixed with a strong use of piano (as hinted at by the title) alongside a proggier sense of melody and song structure over outright technical showmanship.

Pianomation is the successor to last year's Reanimation EP, and features three tracks from that release reworked for piano and voice alone. As much as the new arrangements are enjoyable and refreshing, they fail to excite for as long with such a thin palette and would benefit massively from some trimming rather than just translation. It is easy to accuse Shattered Skies of running after the latest fad, with some justification, but it is pleasing that they've brought their own ideas to the party.