Cloudkicker is a one man instrumental progressive metal project from Ben Sharp (A.K.A. B.M. Sharp) from Columbus, Ohio, USA, heavily influenced by math metal and post-rock. Sharp utilizes drum machines and custom-tuned guitars in his recordings. Cloudkicker’s first album, The Discovery, was made in 2008.
Aviation has been a major recurring theme across multiple releases. Most of the song titles, album titles, and art work are inspired, derived, or influenced by aviation. For example, each song title from Beacons was taken from actual black box recordings or radio transmissions from crashed or malfunctioning airplanes.
The project has received a lot of attention despite lack of a record deal, and is entirely self-financed and self-produced. Ben has stated numerous times that he has no intention to ever sign a record deal. Notably, Devin Townsend stated in December 2010 that “Cloudkicker is really good stuff!” via his Facebook page. Also, Riley Breckenridge of the band Thrice named Beacons as one of his favorite albums of 2010.
