If it happens that you can’t get enough of the new Riddle Of Steel album, you might want to happen upon this EP from the now defunct, once Sacramento, CA-based outfit formerly known as Mister Metaphor. Like Riddle of Steel, Mister Metaphor’s sound blends elements of prog acts such as King Crimson and Yes with indie sensibilities and comes up, more often than not, winning. But Mister Metaphor may stretch the prog side a bit further than their St. Louis counterparts, one of the things that makes this a disc that’s good listening for those who don’t mind a couple extra bars of “Huh?” sewn on at the end of, say, a verse.

The only thing that doesn’t really work about this band is that it doesn’t seem committed to the idea that it could be the greatest band in the universe - something the great ones do and given the individual and collective talent here, MM is/was a band that could have conceivably busted some serious heads. In a spiritual sense, of course. Here Mister Metaphor sounds polite, like it’s unwilling to take that extra step and step on some toes to get where it wants. That said, Die on the High Road is a worthwhile addition to your collection, even if just for curiosity’s sake. – Jedd Beaudoin