Despite coverage of this long running Polish act’s last two albums right here at TOTD, I have never heard this band’s take on synth laden, progressive doom/death/black metal. While researching and reading the promo materials, I see Opeth name dropped quite a bit, and to some extent there is some Opeth in here with light dark hues by way of big death metal rumbles, black metal rasps and more progressive textures and clean vocals. But personally I hear a little more; I hear Dimmu Borgir‘s or Carach Angren‘s  big theatrical symphonic metal, and I hear  what I call ‘Kitchen sink’ metal like Unexpect, Maladie, Ne Obliviscaris and Lock Vostok (though minus things like Oboes and Saxophones). 

There is a little of everything contained in the complex, rangy 5 to 10+ minute conceptual songs; Thrash, death, groove, black and prog. Vocalist Przemysław Kajnat is equally as varied with a range or rasps. growls and well done clean croons. The end result is a deep album that requires some patience,  and isn’t an immediate, catchy listen, but that patience is well rewarded with 45 minutes of solid, progressive extremity.

The production is big and glossy, giving all the styles equal depth and breathing room and while there is not a whole lot of immediacy, the twisty turny, style is highlighted by the first real track “Esoteric Manifestation”, but then you get a more memorable “Sweet Isolation” with some choirs and a restrained pace. The ten minute monster “Reinvented” then really shows the band’s depth and variety, with the last third being the best moments on the album, with nice choirs, deeper vocals. “Mothman” then takes a little acoustic break before 7 minute highlight in “Mimes, Ghouls and Kings” renders another big, sprawling, epic track that feels like the albums centerpiece.Another 10 minute beast, “Glacier” ends the album with a more stern delivery and a more twisted take on the synths, but closes out with a really nice crunch and choirs.

That all said, while I enjoy the album, I have to say I’m not completely enamored like I am with some of the albums by bands in the opening paragraph. It’s a solid release with lots of things to like and while reviewing it, I dug it. But I cant say I’m digging for the band’s back catalog of craving the next album.

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