Line-up: Marek Štembera - guitar, Martin Bárta - drums, Ondra Uhlíř - vocals, Michal Šedivý - guitar, Jakub Uhlík - bass

It would make no sense to introduce the west-bohemian formation Neurotic Machinery to inland fans. The band operates since 2006 and managed to engage a big number of more sophisticated listeners, first of all by their second studio record „Opsialgia" from year 2010. They started to prepare new material after that, from which  the very new EP „Exi(s)t" was completed this year.

The band presented themselves to be much rough and brutal one on last record with tendencies for melodious thrash/death metal. But it was possible to feel  from their expression, that 'Neurotics' are beginning with sticking out the progressive horns. Maybe it is not such surprising because of that, that they have escaped from the straitjacket of thrash/death metal barriers and they opened up their progressive arms in full. Some kind of diversion from brutality is closely related to that, even if the metal roughness and rawness is ubiquitous also here. But the vocalist Ondra Uhlíř did not compromise on brutality at all. He is keeping his aggressively rude style as Catholic is keeping his crucifix. Well let us go back to the music. Already in introductory song  ”After Everything" it is possible to hear clearly that we will not be able to meet any directness  in here. All the instruments will fan out to the world after fine prelude. They will time to time greet the friend from Six Degrees Of Separation, jump to beer with the madmen from Meshuggah, they will hide themselves in the cabin from the chilly northern weather, and they will enjoy the nice atmosphere with  Dark Tranquility  by the hot fireside, and finally shepherd Ondra  will call them back without compromises. Does it sound a bit chaotically and inconceivably? You do not have to be afraid, Neurotic Machinery are able to manage that rampant team with an overview. Honestly that is no problem to compose more complex music. That is more difficult to make it that way that it would not only make sense but to amuse the listener during the whole time of listening, repeated of course. And that was done well on this record. It does not matter at all, that they leave the metal sound time to time, as for example in perfect alternatively rock insert „Fate", spirit of which will move also into following  „Reflection", which will smell by psychedelic odour  time to time. The band will not forget to hit much sharpened string. In case that anybody misses the previous record, that one could be maybe able to gratify partly the brutal lust in the last song „Vertigo",  but really only partly.

If I account the musical performances themselves, that progressive development had to come definitely, sooner or later. That original mold was really tight to them and only with the news they performed their art in full glory. Both guitarists control all the guiles (sometimes maybe breakneck) with total overview and nor the bass does not hide itself in the corner here. But the dominant and non- mishearable person is the drummer  Martin Bárta here. Absolutely talented guy, who gets near to classic rhythm only sporadically. I do not want to underestimate the quality of other members anyhow, particularly the outstanding composer thinking of guitarist Michal Šedivý, but I dare say that it would be hardly possible to ale build the rest of the building named „Exi(s)t, without Martin´s  rhythmic quality basics.