Innerstate - A Tell Tale Trail (1992)

This is almost nu-metal before nu-metal was invented. Innerstate are a mysterious bunch, I'm guessing this was their only opus, an experimental rock/metal/funk/prog outing that sees the band explore unsusual melodies and original harmonies. At best, Innerstate are half decent alterno-metal/rock with rather light, dreamy, and at times psychedelic vocals that drift along like some kaleidoscopic movie, but occasionally a riff may cut in and a rasped vocal chop may puncture proceedings. However, mostly this is a messy affair, just check out the almost rambling sway of 'Fisher Of men' with its FNM-esque vocal swoon and occasional bubbly bass and lurching guitar quirk. The title track boasts a slightly heavier approach, with a Mordred-style crunch circa 'Vision' but those proggy keyboard effects don't do the sound any favours. It would be unfair to call this a metal album, because it isn't one, but it's the type of rock album that'll appeal to prog heads, and maybe those who were interested in the sickly sweet funkoid fad that swept through the metal genre in the early '90s. In a sense this is too clever for its own good, especially when it throws in a few raps and chugs. 4.5/10