Subject to Change Without Notice

A pitfall of progressive metal is that it can sound fussy and overcooked, forsaking actual heaviness in its quest for technicality. On its early 2000s releases, Cleveland quartet Keelhaul made this balancing act sound effortless, delivering a sludgy wallop that rivaled the fury of fellow up-and-comers of the period including Mastodon and High on Fire while working in a surprising amount of dynamic subtlety and rhythmic daring. Subject to Change Without Notice may be their magnum opus, filled with high-intensity obstacle courses during which drummer Will Scharf runs daredevil interference on the towering asymmetrical riffs of guitarists Chris Smith and Dana Embrose and bassist Aaron Dallison. Longer tracks such as “Drivers Bread” and “Randall” leave room for moody interludes, accruing potent tension before the beating recommences.