This whole "djent" offshoot of progressive metal – derived from the sound of the guitar strings being muted right after being hit, and characterised by sprawling epics exhibiting a great deal of heavy and technical music – certainly appears to be the bandwagon picking up the most passengers of late. And so enter America's Stealing Axion with their debut record Moments, complete with innumerable Meshuggah references and a nod towards the likes of TesseracT in an album that drags on for too long. Cutting four or five tracks of filler from the middle would immediately improve the longevity and flow.

But when Stealing Axion do get it right, they are monstrously good. Exhibit A is 'Everything Or Nothing', five minutes that so perfectly encapsulates what this sub-genre is about with its mix of effects-laden ambience and utterly crushing riffs. Opener 'Mirage Of Hope' is another fine example, and the twenty minute two-part title track stretches it legs elegantly without ever boring, even if it does sound just a little too much like the aforementioned kings Meshuggah. Moments may not be the complete album, but there is enough evidence here to say Stealing Axion are ones to watch in the future.

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