THE IRONIC DIVIDE
And Cowards
Hollow Reflections
The Ironic Divide
a. Premonitions
b. A Torment of Reason
c. Distort Persona
d. One Final Collapse
Scares Now Rest Where Once Bore Wings
Label: Sensory Records
Release Date: March 26, 2021
Credits: Jason Blake (Warr guitar), Mike Milaniak (guitar), Tommy Murray (drums)
Music: Jason Blake
Recording: Jim Siwek (Transient Sound)
Mix: Steven Gillis (Transient Sound)
Mastering: Ted Jensen (Sterling Sound)
Artwork & Design: Micka Klauck
Top albums of 2021 lists:
Sonic Perspectives Top Instrumental Progressive Metal Album of the Year
Gagliarchives GPRN Top 100 of 2021 (#28)
Durf's Töp 15 Albums of 2021 (Brutalitopia)
In the Prog Seat: Our Top Prog Albums of 2021
The 2021 Tastemaker Album List
Reviews:
Cave Dweller Music
“I can confidently say that this is one of the best instrumental albums I have ever listened to in my life. Honestly I cannot get enough of the music presented on this release. The sheer technicality, complexity and heaviness of it all blows my mind. Do not sleep on this album, you will regret it.”
Sonic Perspectives
“Aziola Cry marks its revival with an expansive collection of heavy, rhythmically intricate compositions for the contemplative ear, darker and more mysterious than the usual prog-metal lying in your CD collection...”
Progcast
“Great album. Amazing instrumental stuff they are putting out there.
Hell Spawn
“The compositions and tempo changes are top-notch and you can hear that the gentlemen are technically skilled. With instrumental music, it’s always a challenge to keep things exciting, but these Americans certainly succeed.”
The Doorway To
“This album is really something special.”
Sea of tranquility
“This is one hot instrumental slab of prog-metal.”
Median Man
“It runs the gamut and really produces something special.”
White Room Reviews
“Aziola Cry could be seen as a seductive woman on The Ironic Divide."
Betreutes Proggen
“Aziola Cry rely on content compression, giving their music very little room to breathe, which underlines the character of the dark, metallic music. Happy is different.”
Global Metal Apocalypse
“Instrumental metal is sometimes under appreciated, or not covered enough by metal media… perhaps America’s Aziola Cry will change that…”
MUsiczine
“In the many layers of sound we have surprising twists and changes in tempo in guitar riffs and sledgehammer strokes; it is a varied and engaging approach.”
Progwereld
“Fortunately there is a new album that is certainly recommended for instrumental post-metal fans with a good feeling for polyrhythmic time signatures and dissonant guitar structures.”
DPRP
“The progressive rock brain is tickled almost constantly.”
Rock Hard
“…the trio from Chicago unleashes a mesmerizing maelstrom of playful weirdnesses, unusual beats, cold grooves and even flowing art rock. Let's agree on extraordinary!”
Metal Glory Magazine
"The Ironic Divide" is not an easy pleasure to taste, but rather something for the gourmet who moves beyond genre boundaries.”
FFM-Rock Online Magazin
“You can't avoid recognizing AZIOLA CRY's musical class.”
Autopoetican
“The Ironic Divide” is a formidable work that reactivates the current scene of experimental prog-metal.”
Rootstime
“The Ironic Divide' by Aziola Cry is for lovers of instrumental post-metal and the Warr guitar or Chapman Stick”
Sonic Perspectives
“It’s a sort of ironic combination of complex sound groupings being used to convey a very simple message of disquiet, exposing the divided nature of the world it depicts.”
Prog Archives
“So many amazing moments as these guys can play and we get plenty of complexity on display.
Sea of tranquility
“Dark, brooding, heavy, complex, but not showy.”
Metal sucks
“Powerful, bass-heavy riffs collide with jarring rhythms, weaving in and out of odd time signatures for an effect that’s as discomforting as it is soothing.”
The Progspace
“This is the sort of music that you just need to concentrate on and let wash over you. Because it’s all instrumental, the absence of words and lyrics means you are free to interpret it all in any way you wish. Maybe it will be a different interpretation each time you listen. One thing is for sure, you can’t fail to be impressed by the superb musicianship of this trio.”
THERAPY THROUGH A LENSE
“Aziola Cry have once again created a record of subliminal overture.”
Flying Fiddlesticks
“You can concentrate on this music intently or have it instead surround you as part of your environment. Either way, it will soak in. Recommended.”
Brutalitopia
“The Ironic Divide is a tremendous album, heavy and riffing and jazzy and proggy without feeling overstuffed or wanky or ridiculous.”
Music Street Journal
“However you classify it, though, this is a strong release and great addition to the catalog.”
Metal Addicts
“Each track use different features from Heavy music with a highlight to the very creative drumming.”
Stormbringer
“At some point I would be curled up like a baby in the womb under the table, longing for the last dish, and that in turn raises the question of whether AZIOLA CRY hadn't actually planned it.”
Babyblaue Prog
“So I slowly understand why I have the impression that the music on “The Ironic Divide” pushes me into my armchair almost mercilessly. This is how metal has to be. Behind this force, however, you can discover new details with each pass.”
Arrow Lords Of Metal
“The strength of the compositions lies in the atmosphere of the music, the dynamics and melodies.”
My Revelations
“Because what the gentlemen get out of their instruments exceeds much that I would have thought possible until now. Virtuoso is probably the right term for it.”
Metal Heads
“In the further course, the prog strikes full and with the corresponding drum patterns in conjunction wit the guitars, it becomes great progressive.”
Bleed 4 Metale
“Over four songs in 49 minutes and 51 seconds, adventurous arpeggios, challenging harmonies, restless rhythms, tumbling tempos and uncomfortable unison lines are brought together.”
Fuze magazine
“This is anything but a simple album.”
Metal hammer magazine
“…this undertaking should certainly appeal to friends of wordless, but compositionally savvy prog metal art.”
Gitarre & Bass
“…one of the strongest instrumental albums of the year so far.”
Rock it magazine
“…fascinating instrumental tracks that impress with a miraculous coexistence of massive riffs and playful sounds.”
Legacy Magazine
“If you believe that such sprawling instrumental songs can quickly get boring, the three guys from Illinois will teach you otherwise.”