To the credit of this Finnish band, they place value on songwriting. However other mysteries surround them like why does this band need five singers. Their lead singer has a plaintive baritone that works well enough. They are playing a fairly straight forward version of goth flavored rock. Not unlike Devils Blood with male vocals are if Paradise Lost was more of a stoner rock band. The vocals are more layered on the chorus, but I am not sure if all five singers are involved in this. Things get a little darker when it comes to the mood of the second song. The vocals are fairly dramatic in the way they are phrased, but not much heavier musically than say Blue Oyster Cult with a flair for westerns.
"Alexandria" moves with a brisker groove, but the vocals sit oddly on it. The songwriting also appears to follow a simple formula. They are decent musicians. The drummer might be the star here. They guitar is nuanced yet able to rip a solo when called for. It is not until "Melinoe" that vocals are switched up with alto that sounds like it could have been peeled away from classic rock radio. The band does play a little more aggressively, but this could stand to be darker, given it's supposed occult interests. There is more hook to the song "the Singer" , but it still plays it safe in the middle of the road. It is like if Neil Diamond made a Halloween album for the Muppet Show
They had the needed exotic undertones to what feels like the best song so far with "Nyktophoros". The snake like slink, helps convey something left of the dial from vanilla radio rock. This is leaned into again with "Mother of Phantoms" that feels like Weird Al jamming with Dead Can Dance. When they throw this dynamic out the window and opt for the more middle of the road rock sound this is not as interesting. There are some folk elements that work with the rocking climax that are effective. Over all the album plays it too safe for my tastes , but they write good songs so I will give this a 7.5.
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