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The music of Adam Kalmbach, under his Jute Gyte moniker, exists at the outer regions of that which is far out in heavy metal. The music paints harmonies beyond the capacity of modern tempered western instruments by implementing the use of ‘just intonation’ guitars. A guitar designed for ‘just intonation’ is one with the frets rearranged at different intervals than those of a standard guitar, resulting in a melodic matrix entirely apart from do re mi fa so la ti do. As if this unique harmonic system was not enough to make matters unpredictable, Jute Gyte informs listeners in the first line of the notes to Perdurance that, “several tracks on this album feature multiple simultaneous tempi”. That is one way of saying, listen to this music at your own risk if you use a pacemaker.
This is not to say that Jute Gyte’s music is without precedent. In the notes to Perdurance, influences of particular metal bands are name checked, specifically, Inquisition, Grief, and Eyehategod. One can also hear similarities in Perdurance to avant-leaning metal projects like Thantifaxath and De Magia Veterum, as well as in the ritual industrial of Murmuüre and Wold. The notes to this record go on to talk about the music in much greater technical depth, cite inspiration from classical music and display the record’s literary influences on its sleeve. This is not a band about which one can say they need no introduction.
Perdurance, to be sure, is comprised of heady stuff. It is, however, important to note that, for all its use of carefully considered philosophies, Perdurance is also a record made with a lot of feeling. This man spends seemingly every waking hour he has making this music, and the passion that is poured into its inception definitely comes through the speakers as Perdurance coughs forth its chaotic hymns. The guitar playing on this release is so visionary and unique, it is enough to make you think you’re hearing colors.
The project is staggeringly prolific; and yet, the attention to detail contained within the releases, generally speaking, makes them feel anything but dashed off. Metal Archives lists no fewer than twenty-six full-lengths by Jute Gyte in the last decade, in addition to various splits and EPs. To say that this is the work of an inspired artist would be an understatement. It is the work of a man possessed. The music, in turn, carries an absolutely maniacal intensity.
Still, for all of its spiraling intensity, I have to say that my favorite moments are when the breakneck tempi lay off the pressure a bit; these moments - such as the riff beginning at the 5:25 minute mark of the tune "Like a Woodcutter Sawing His Hands" - feel like brief respites in between bouts of forced ingestion water torture. As one can well imagine, the record makes for a cacophonous listen. For those of us not yet hooked up to life support machines, Perdurance is also a very rewarding listen.