Cloudkicker

Cloudkicker is the solo project of Ben Sharp, a Columbus, Ohio-based pilot whose music has become a cornerstone of the independent instrumental metal scene. Emerging in the late 2000s, Sharp bypassed traditional industry structures, releasing his entire discography as 'pay what you want' on Bandcamp.

His sound is characterized by a sophisticated blend of Meshuggah-esque polyrhythms, the atmospheric builds of post-rock, and a distinctively warm, home-recorded production aesthetic. Sharp's background in aviation deeply permeates the project, from song titles derived from black box recordings to the aerodynamic 'lift' of his melodic arcs. Despite his status as a studio-only artist for most of his career, a landmark 2014 tour with Intronaut and Tesseract solidified his influence among peers. Critical consensus views Cloudkicker as a pioneer of the 'bedroom prog' movement, proving that high-level technical metal could be produced with minimal gear and maximum creative autonomy. His work bridges the gap between the aggression of djent and the emotional resonance of cinematic post-rock.