The Last Cell is the project founded by Austrian composer, producer, and guitarist, Jean-Marc Perc. Together with drummer Robin Weber, and bassist Lukas Florian, he has released a new (fourth) EP, Dramua, and you can, incidentally, see all of this impressive project’s music by visiting their website at https://thelastcell.com/ with you being able to purchase and download the work on Bandcamp at https://thelastcell.bandcamp.com/album/dramua   

Incidentally, guitarist Matevž Počič joined the lineup in 2024, expanding The Last Cell to a quartet, and they are working on new material.

From the narrative on Bandcamp, we are told that Dramua embodies the fierce and untamed energy of fire, roaring with intensity as it brings the elemental saga to its conclusion, where everything ignites, the final spark that leaves its mark. So, does the music live up to this? Let’s find out, with three hot & fiery pieces to discuss.

First up is Crimson. The start is as dramatic as it comes, putting the listener in mind of blast furnaces of one’s nightmares, and the riffs when they enter are relentless, the rhythm section from the outset proving themselves very adept, and I really like the guitar work, the sound of a rock maestro, a very pleasing post rock scenario being played out. Tremendous stuff.

Vulkhan, which can only be a play on the Roman God of fire, thus giving rise to volcanoes in modern language, follows. Reviewers are always quick to criticise mixing & general production, so a word here for the man responsible, Norbert Leitner, because it all sounds wonderful, especially on this, a prog metal delight, crunching riffs, relentless pace, complexity, and recalling the chaos an eruption brings to communities, the fury and the resultant pain, cleverly brief, but very effective, quiet passages bringing the calm before the storm of destruction. The guitar solo is killer, and this is a strong contender for my instrumental of the year award at year-end.

We close with the title track, embedded below, another piece which strongly demonstrates some remarkable dexterity and complex playing on the part of the musicians. As might be expected from the title, there is no small amount of drama within this, the riffs playing off each other, a tale of urgency and, I believe, flight. At the three-minute stage, we get a wonderful blues infused interlude, which remains at the core of the riffs which follow, before the closing minutes, although chaotic, signals an uplift in fortune, of survival, of relief.

So, I asked whether the music lives up to the hot trailer the band have put out. Absolutely. This is a class EP which must appeal to all of you who appreciate the intricacies of quality progressive metal.