Belarusian instrumental tech death duo Essence of Datum did what many have tried and failed to do: help me enjoy of deep instrumental metal. For me, there’s something missing in metal that lacks a vocal element. Part of that is surely rooted in the fact that I almost never listen to purely instrumental music anymore. Nonetheless, the core problem I encounter is that so little instrumental metal excites me, either because of fluffy songwriting with no real backbone, or because it’s simply an excuse for a solo artist to wank all over me without my consent. Not so with Essence of Datum or their last effort, Spellcrying Machine, which was a thoughtful, detailed, and compelling instrumental piece. Can its follow-up, the strange and wacky Radikal Rats, keep that trend running?

First of all, toss whatever you thought of Essence of Datum’s sound in 2019 out of a window. Very little black metal or death metal DNA remains in Radikal Rats’ composition. Instead, Essence of Datum focused on a rollicking, melodic post-metal vibe reliant on melodic leads, buzzy synths, and groovy percussion. To these ears—thanks to a much helpful rec from Sentynel—this sounds like a tech death band writing a God is an Astronaut album, with flourishes of Astrosaur progginess, Abstract Void synthwave and Vulture Industries swagger rounding things out. An airier guitar tone and a much smoother-sounding bass cut the distorted heft of previous work in half, while blast beats and double bass runs on the kit similarly take a back seat to make way for more restrained grooves and jazzy cymbal trickery. Consequently, Radikal Rats is the closest thing metal has to easy listening. In fact, these lounge-ready tunes have an uncanny ability to relax my nerves and soothe my overactive body. It makes for a nice change of pace from the glut of brutally heavy and blood-boiling releases cluttering up my schedule these past few months.

Unfortunately, I struggle to find reasons to return to Radikal Rats for said R&R. What merit it gains in novelty and uniqueness by shifting to lighter, bouncier fare, it simultaneously loses in cohesion and memorability in songwriting. Some of these tracks are compelling, like the boisterous “Bias,” but for the most part the record passes by without having much to say or leaving a lasting mark. Radikal Rats is a record most aptly regarded as pleasant and inoffensive, making it ideal as background music. As such, it’s incredibly effective as a soundtrack to getting a ton of work done at home or at the office, but focused listening sessions leave me feeling somewhat disappointed. I’m simply not enjoying myself as much as I did with Essence of Datum’s previous work.

On the other hand, Radikal Rats’ best material recalls the fanciful whimsy of Nuclear Power Trio‘s recent outing, which proves that Essence of Datum’s current formula holds great potential. Closer “Rodent Rebellion” and opener “Supersonic Soul Injector” accomplish the herculean task of evoking both Sonic the Hedgehog and Cyberpunk 2077 while also recalling 80s spy movie soundtracks. It’s an excellent exercise in Essence of Datum’s current aesthetic that I wish was more consistently successful album-wide. The aforementioned “Bias” is also a triumph, a whirlwind of soft blast beats that coalesce beautifully with airy tremolos and transition smoothly into a swinging prog section later. “Universe 25” and “Jukel ov Agony” manage to stick the landing when Essence of Datum veer on the proggier, jazzier side of their sound, thanks to the presence of sharper hooks and more of those buttery transitions between passages. As a final compliment, the instrumentation on Radikal Rats is, frankly, pristine. Technical prowess and tasteful embellishment abound. Regardless of my own feelings towards the songwriting, there is no justifiable means of faulting the performances.

Many will find a great deal to enjoy on Radikal Rats. There is a lot to like, and at least half of these songs are great on their own. But for me, it just doesn’t come together as an album that demands my attention from beginning to end. Its performances are infallible, but its songwriting doesn’t consistently excite me or leave me wanting more. Nevertheless, I’m keeping my eye on Essence of Datum. I want very much to hear what wild stuff they come up with next.