Origin:	Denton, TX, USA
Genres:	Progressive Metal

Shaolin Death Squad

An odd name for an odd band -- the name "Shaolin Death Squad" could mean anything when it comes to a band name, but for some reason quirky, theatrical progressive metal isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Reviewed here is their second release, Intelligent Design (a third album was recently released in early 2010). The band embrace a lot of contemporary prog metal without sounding like cheap Dream Theater knockoffs like a lot of other bands do -- there's a flair for the dramatic, a willingness to stretch boundaries while still keeping everything in control. The vocals are usually clear and melodic, but with harsher growls sprinkled without, and that's how it should be -- too many growls would cheapen the effect, and none would lessen the punch of the songs. This is classy, mature, and adventurous, an easy recommendation for the prog fan.