Back in ancient times, Douglas Martins was in Desdominus. The Brazilian multi-instrumentalist quit that band back in 2005. Now he has a new album, written and performed just by him. Sometimes that sort of isolation can lead someone down the wrong rabbit hole. In this case, however, Martins has found the freedom to do something of a survey course on metal.

Deep Memories Rebuilding the Future (self-released)

So there are elegiac guitar lines reminiscent of 70s Priest. There are plenty of double-kick rhythms and the raining guitar of black metal. Keyboards feature prominently in some songs. And Martins sings, growls, shouts and screams as the needs of the song warrant. I suppose an easy shorthand would be Dan Swano producing Fear Factory, but that limits the sound to a particular era, and Martins decidedly does not do that.

Some of these songs are symphonic in structure, but the overall ambition and reach make that term applicable to all the songs. Martins's scope is almost unreal in its immensity. I'm not sure a band would try the things he does--and I'm pretty sure that it would be difficult to get a band to wrap its head around everything going on here.

If you're an old metal head like me, and on occasion "wouldn't it be cool if?" thoughts pop into your head, this is the album for you. Martins thinks the same way, and he actually found out the answer to the question. It is cool, indeed.

Jon Worley