Generally speaking, progressive rock bands aren’t known for theirefficiency — but SCALE THE SUMMIT, who have released four albums in 7 years, have never exactly played by the rules.First, consider their chosen genre of music, which is perpetuallyunfashionable by mainstream standards.

Then consider that, in the truespirit of prog, they decided to take things one step further — whichin their case meant forging ahead without a vocalist. One can onlyimagine the shaking heads of friends, family members and faculty atHollywood’s Musicians Institute (where the band formed while itsmembers were students) and their many attempts to dissuade the groupfrom attempting to make a living as an instrumental progressiverock/metal band.

Luckily, they didn’t listen — and after hearing “The Migration,”SCALE THE SUMMIT’s most recent Billboard-charting album, you’ll wonder why anyone in their rightminds ever doubted the band in the first place.

Produced andrecorded by Jamie King (Between The Buried and Me), it’s anotheradventurous, thrilling helping of atmospheric, evocative soundscapesthat aptly showcase the band’s many talents — the greatest of whichmight just be their ability to combine virtuosity with tastefulness.

As always, the group includes several of their trademark,fleet-fingered “tapping” passages, which are an even greater joy towitness live. Indeed, the live stage is where SCALE THE SUMMIT haveearned considerable fans over the past several years, whether touringwith progressive royalty such as Dream Theater, Zappa Plays Zappa andCynic, supporting neo-prog masters Periphery, Protest The Hero andBTBAM, performing at high-profile festivals (YEStival, Cruise to the Edge, Make Music Pasadena,SXSW, Prog Day, the MetalSucks “Suckfest”) or headlining their own tours.

Buckle up, as SCALE THE SUMMIT’sodyssey is just beginning.