There was a time between the late 80s and early 90s where metal bands continued to extend the boundaries of the style, to the breaking point. Most of them having come from thrash and traditional heavy metal backgrounds. Sometimes the music was surreal in its complicated approach. It was almost as if the 70s prog rock bands at reemerged during the thrash era, and the end result was often mesmerizing. None of these groups were particularly successful on a commercial level, though the more known entities managed to sell quite a bit of copy. Mekong Delta, Realm, Anacrusis, Psychotic Waltz, and Thought Industry were just a handful of the most recognized names. For my tastes, this era of metal was the zenith of the style. The music must have been difficult to perform live, and lacking any kind of commercial enthusiasm, the style seemed to disappear overnight. By 1994, more contemporary and direct styles such as Nu-Metal and Groove Metal began to emerge, seemingly as a response to progressive thrash.
Australia's Taramis were yet another band who made a go at this most interesting metal genre. They started as a traditional heavy metal band, but by 1991 - the heyday of prog thrash - they released Stretch of the Imagination. As apropos a name as one could think of. And Taramis proved they were quite adept at it too. The vocalist is more in control than most (though hardly smooth), and the sound is crisp yet chaotic. Best of all is the bass playing, not an instrument that always gets highlighted in music such as this. All in all, another excellent example of progressive thrash, and well worth your time if music like this interests you at all.
Ownership: CD: 1991 Rising Sun (Germany). Purchased new online sometime in the late 90s.
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