Abnormal Thought Patterns-Abnormal Thought

CynNormal Lab Recordings
2011

Abnormal Thought Patterns is made up of members of technical/progressive act Zero Hour. In fact what you have here is founding members and brothers Jasun and Troy Tipton (also of Cynthesis) and drummer Mike Guy taking another step towards being all about the music only. With that said Abnormal Thought Patterns is a (more or less) self-titled instrumental album in every sense of the word. The whole affair seems poised to offer praise to the technical aspects of their instruments. "The Machine Within" opens things up with quirky progressive rock.  Is that the best way to describe it? A better way might be technical rock that feels more electronic than organic. Electronic rock is fine and all if there is an emotional drive behind it. That does not seem to be the case here though as this is  overly electronic in nature and less about being emotionally driven. With this EP you have music that is  great from a technical standpoint but does it evoke any response otherwise? From the four-part epic "Velocity and Acceleration" to the bass-only track "Ulnar Nerve Damage" the EP is more about being mathematical brilliant than making any lasting statements. For me at least this new prog project feels too self-obsessed.