After teasing progressive and metal fans with a fascinating variety of singles, the sophomore album From Nothing by Benthos is officially out: Across 12 tracks, the band is not just captivating listens through a strong range of diversity and energetic deliveries, but are telling a thoughtful, inspiring story of humankind in its full variety. Thriving in spaces between modern progressive metal, mathcore, and post-hardcore, each single on the record highlights the band’s fearless, eclectic approach. Benthos’ From Nothing is for those who crave music that’s unapologetically heavy and unhinged, yet also delicately melodic, jazz-infused, and dreamlike.
We asked the band about three releases that have influenced them a lot musically…
The Mars Volta – Deloused in The Comatorium
Gabri (guitar): Deloused in the Comatorium completely transformed my approach to music. Released in 2003, The Mars Volta’s masterpiece was ahead of its time, blending psychedelic math rock with chaotic rhythms and impeccable vocals. This album embodies my belief in musical experimentation, pushing boundaries with its raw, frenetic energy. The songwriting is both complex and accessible, blending directness with intricacy. It’s not just an album; it’s a journey through chaos and beauty, where timbre takes the lead over traditional melodies. A truly immersive experience that remains an endless source of inspiration. Deloused is a wild, unapologetic expression of musical freedom.
Animals as Leaders – Animals as Leaders
Albi (bass): I could have chosen one at random from their first 3 albums. I chose the first one because it was the first one that introduced this musical approach. I still remember the first time I heard it; I was 15 years old it was in the evening and I was finishing my homework for school.
What can I say, I madly love the path of metal guitar reinterpretation undertaken by Tosin and Javier. I love how they took from the bass world the “slap” and repurposed it to the emerging Djent language. I love the harmonic material used, sometimes reminding me of artists like Ben Monder and Holdsworth. This album, like the next two, contributed so much to my style on the electric bass.
Radiohead – In Rainbows
Ale (drums): During my adolescence, I mostly listened to rock and metal that went under the “prog/math” umbrella. I was obsessed with seeking the limits of my instrument, so I was mainly attracted by complexity. Radiohead marked the dawn of my musical maturity, in which I started to value the artistic vision, the overall sound and composition, the production, the musical influences and the role that an album had in relation to what came before and after.
OK Computer is arguably their best work if we consider the impact that it had (and still has today), but my favourite is still In Rainbows. For my taste, it’s the perfect synthesis of their musical journey: energetic riffs; “hybrid” drumming (drums and drum machine loops merging together); crunchy, noisy and dry sounds (I’m a sucker for drums with as little reverb as possible); spectacular synth work; touching and bittersweet melodies. They found this loophole that everyone searches for: meaningful, layered and thoughtful music that’s also appealing to first and/or inexperienced listeners.
