skyward

Among the Clouds: Myoora Goes “Skyward”

skyward

For those who owe our lives to music, it is an especially heartwarming feeling to see young, passionate individuals not only pursuing their artistic dreams, but excelling in these endeavors. One such example of success by remarkably young talent comes from Sydney progressive duo Myoora — comprised of two phenomenally skilled guitarists named Daniel Nesci and Daniel Pinto (aged 16 and 22, respectively), the outfit first gained attention back in March with their debut Moon Grotto EP, three tracks of meticulously crafted and tightly produced instrumental prog metal. Blending elements from some of their major stylistic influences such as Plini and Misha Mansoor into their own idiosyncratic mixture, Myoora began their discography on a strong note with that unconventional yet infectious debut.

Now, only four months after the release of the Moon Grotto EP, the duo has returned to announce the release of yet another offering of fresh new material in the form of “Skyward,” a track which marks the next step in Myoora’s musical evolution. Taking a bold step into a sound that is decidedly different from their previous material, this new single exemplifies a conscious effort to infuse technical proficiency into more graceful and heartfelt compositions. As stated by guitarist Pinto:

[I]t’s safe to say [Myoora] is moving away from the prog-metal and more into a melodic element of prog rock/pop but still keeping true to our roots and writing style. We wanted to achieve an almost wall of sound full of emotion.

Stream “Skyward” below:

https://soundcloud.com/myoora-160251787/skyward-premiere-exclusive-stream/s-WoXw2

With no announcement of a long-form release to accompany the track, “Skyward” stands as a transition point for the group, a testing of the waters to assess their new approach.
It demonstrates the increased emphasis placed on melodic elements within the band’s sound: with a melting liquid timbre, the track’s introductory riff is slowly joined by synthesizers, chimes, and orchestral elements, steeping it in a warm electronic ambiance with impressive aural depth. Even as a sweeping drum fill brings the track into a more bombastic, overdriven space, its central riff seems more triumphant and celebratory than technical and aggressive. However, this is not to suggest that the entire track is entirely simplistic — as “Skyward”‘s energy continues to build and swell, the Daniels toss in deftly executed licks and compact, spiraling solos that intertwine with the many layers of symphonic ambiance to create an effect that is equal parts accessible and compelling.

The bridge between the song’s central riff and its final moments defines an integral statement within the track’s compositional structure. As more and more layers of programmed instrumentation continue to accumulate atop a repeating guitar pattern, the track’s poppy elements merge perfectly with the group’s highly polished, djent-oriented techniques to create a brightly energetic, almost video game-esque atmosphere. By the time the song’s final climax is reached, Myoora have proven that their virtuosic progressive abilities can be effortlessly woven into more straightforward rock/pop structure without sacrificing an ounce of their creative individuality; if anything, working to incorporate a more broad range of influences into one cohesive entity has made their sound even more potent and fascinating. Myoora is perhaps not the first to steer an instrumental progressive metal outfit into pop territory, but they find themselves unrivaled in doing so with such panache.

myoora band

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