We’ve been watching the rise of Tacoma’s Stealing Axion since first hearing their sweet 2010 self-titled EP (reviewed at NCS here). Now the band are on the verge of seeing the release of their full-length debut by Inside Out Music and Century Media. Entitled Moments, the album will hit the streets on August 28 in the U.S. and a day earlier in Europe — and we’re giving you a stream of the entire work beginning today.

Stealing Axion join together a variety of musical components — off-kilter, jack-hammering rhythms; intricate and often mesmerizing guitar performances; memorable, beautiful melodies; and an effective contrast between abrasive, harsh vocals and clean, clear singing that echoes and soars. (And for those newcomers to the site, despite our name we do make exceptions when the metal is as good as what’s on Moments.)

The music weaves together brute-force aggressiveness, higher-order complexity, and shimmering atmospherics, delivering a blend of piston-driven body-movers and progressive stylings that send the mind surfing on astral waves. The songwriting is excellent, and the musical performances are all top-shelf. The album was mixed and mastered by TesseracT guitarist/producer Acle Kahney, and it sounds fantastic, producing the clarity and separation that best suits this kind of progressive, technically demanding music.

Moments is a long, ambitious work that demands serious attention, but it’s also a hell of a lot of fun to hear. Fans of bands such as Textures should find it especially appealing, but we recommend that every devotee of metal give this a try. The stream begins next . . .







The Moments CD can be pre-ordered here or here (U.S.) or here (EUR). You can connect with Stealing Axion on Facebook via this link.

Beginning in October, Stealing Axion will be appearing on the first annual Euroblast Tour along with Jeff Loomis, Monuments, and Vildhjarta. Here’s the schedule:

17.10.12 (D) Munich – Feierwerk

18.10.12 (CH) Aarau – Kiff

20.10.12 (D) Cologne – Euroblast Festival

21.10.12 (UK) Brighton – Audio

22.10.12 (UK) Reading – Sub89

23.10.12 (UK) Liverpool – O2 Academy 2

24.10.12 (UK) Glasgow – Cathouse

25.10.12 (IRL) Dublin – The Village

26.10.12 (UK) Leeds – The Well

27.10.12 (UK) Birmingham – O2 Academy 3

28.10.12 (UK) London – Underworld

29.10.12 (B) Antwerp – Trix

30.10.12 (NL) Kerkrade – The Rock Temple

31.10.12 (D) Münster – Sputnikhalle

01.11.12 (N) Oslo – Sub Scene

02.11.12 (S) Gothenburg – Sticky Fingers

05.11.12 (FIN) Helsinki – Tavastia

07.11.12 (DK) Copenhagen – Templet

08.11.12 (D) Berlin – Magnet

10.11.12 (CZ) Prague – Hoodoo

11.11.12 (H) Budapest – Dürer Kert

12.11.12 (A) Vienna – Arena

13.11.12 (I) Rome – Traffic Club

14.11.12 (I) Legnano – Land Of Live Club

