For a guy that prides himself on the filthy sounds of metal’s hellish underground, a band like Intervals can seem like somewhat of a guilt pleasure. But guilt and shake he damned. I’m ready to throw on pastels and play air guitar in the streets when Aaron Marshall of Intervals is shredding. On Miller’s most recent work, The Shape of Colour he has once again returned to an instrumental format allowing blistering skill, catchy composition and precise rhythm work to lead the way. And to be clear, this isn’t a non-metal album, it’s just not exactly a “metal” album. So it finds a home here in Rainbows in the Dark.

Intervals prior work included vocals. They vacillated between a pop punk style and an almost nu metal approach. The result was an album that took on an Opeth-like format. A few l short, sweet and hummable instrumental tracks on AJ album dominated by repeating patterns and varied approaches. That album was, without a doubt, a conflicting listen. Categorizing it would have been pointless. But, it allowed guitarist, songwriter, etc. Aaron Marshall to hone his craft and find those bluesy bends and slides that captivate his audience. Applied to The Shape of Colour, those Satriani-like smooth, chromatic licks are invasive enough to cause that oh-so-pleasurable ugly face in the listener. As if the listener is actually playing soulful guitar writhing outwards from the core of their being.

The Shape of Colour also features, on tracks like “Fable,” the melodious, salient sounds of an alto saxophone. The over-sized reed making for a breathy, natural wind-like effect. Expect your soul to be stolen. The catchiness and infectious was of The Shape of Colour is downright criminal. An assault on your central nervous system you will find yourself making tortured faces, gasping and playing air guitar in public. On public transit? No problem. You will pick up that guitar, affect the white man’s overbite and groove as if you were in your own private yacht captained by none other than smooth sailing Christopher Cross.

Jokes aside, The Shape of Colour is a masterpiece long in the making. The album reveals skill and smooth fuzzed out melody enough to make Carlos Santana jealous. It truly is a celebration of the guitar. Without vocals the guitar is able to shine forth and lead the way like a beacon attached to the head of a majestic pony. Expect to be floored and amazed at the ease with which Aaron Marshall is able to manipulate the guitar as if it were literally an extension of his non-threatening phallus.

– Manny-O-War

The Shape of Colour is available 12.4.2015 via Bandcamp. For more information on Intervals please visit their Facebook page.