I stumbled upon David Maxim Micic’s “Bilo” EP not too long ago and instantly became a fan. This guys creativity is out of this world and his writing is solid. Coming from Serbia, David has really re-defined and set the bar high for other “bedroom producers” worldwide.
The “Bilo 2.0” EP borrows elements of the original release but it’s definitely a beast of it’s own. Bringing together progressive metal, jazz fusion, huge atmosphere, electronics, technicality, tasteful writing, and heaps of experimentation, this EP creates a musical journey for the listener. Not to say David’s music is perfect, but he sure as hell is working to make it that way.
It starts off with “Electric Fields”, which not too surprisingly starts with electronics. Maybe not the most original concept, but when the song really kicks in, you can tell this EP is in an entirely different league from the mediocrities being pumped out today. David’s writing style is just plain amazing. It morphs from being simple and effective to complex and huge in the blink of an eye. “Rise And Shine” really displays that quality. It begins with electronics rising into an incredible winding guitar riff which ushers in the powerful main melody of the song. This is a solid track from start to finish, displaying a variety of aural pleasures across the spectrum from melody to heaviness. “Rise And Shine” also features an exceptional contribution from guitarist Jakub Zyteki. Next up is “Along For a Ride”, referencing the opening track of the original “Bilo” EP. Absolutely incredible song with shades of Animals As Leaders. This track has a really interesting tight electronic type groove towards the beginning but explodes into one of the best leading melodies on the release. What’s really awesome about this track is that it features several impressive saxophone parts by guest Carl Carton. It gives the song a very creative twist. “Strange Night” is definitely a strange one. It’s probably one of the more technical pieces on the EP. It’s also the first track to feature powerful singing vocals from Vladimir Lalic. David seems to have a thing for laying speaking voices into his songs, providing short, trippy monologues for the listener. It has an awesome effect and is certainly showcased in “Strange Night”. Very well written track. The last and hardest song to pronounce, “Mbinguni Amina”, may be one of my favorites, if not my favorite on “Bilo 2.0”. Absolutely phenomenal. I love the huge brass sound of the trumpets and the worldly feel backing a good bit of the song. I never wanted to mosh to trumpets before! The grooves and melodic parts in this one are so damn nice and there’s another flash to the original “Bilo” EP through a familiar female monologue. One of the things that really sets this song apart are the huge, opera style vocals soaring above, yet again provided by Vladimir Lalic. Great stuff.
As I said before, it’s not quite perfection but it’s definitely pushing for it. David Maxim Micic is already a mature musician, especially for his age, but I think the Bilos are just the beginning of what he can do. There’s massive creative potential here. But in the mean time I’ll keep jamming the Bilos. Objectively, it feels like there is an overabundance of quirky electronic music on “Bilo 2.0” which may be off putting for some. Although it’s just a part of his experimental style so it doesn’t bother me personally. Also some riffs may sound similar at first listen, but you will notice they are unique with further observation. Other than that I don’t have any real criticisms about this EP. Just incredibly well done. Big things are on the way for this guy.
If you’re a prog head with a flare for the experimental you should definitely add “Bilo 2.0” to your music collection. You can grab it right here on Bandcamp. You should also get the original “Bilo” for that matter. The Circle Pit will definitely watch out to see what David Maxim Micic does next. Stay tuned.
Also be sure to check out Destiny Potato (best band name ever?), David’s recently signed, full time band.
