Hypno5e : " Sheol"

 If we are going to be honest about what is going on with this French band, they are djent with progressive leanings. They have plenty of winding mathematics, set against more atmosphere and melodic sections of clean singing. The first actual song is ten and a half minutes so yes, they do get pretty progressive. The sung vocals are very timid and fragile with a young delicate quality to them, almost like Alcest. They do take you on a journey which I can appreciate though there is nothing they really stuck with me as the sounds cruised past my ears, so grandiose but not catchy songwriters. This youthful androgyny also possesses the second song. There are lots of thoughtful dazzling guitar passages, the drummer is also on it, but it is the guitar's show.  There is more to this song than the previous one, but no vocal melodies that are going to get stuck in my head. 

There are harsh vocals on this album, but they are more like the bark of a commanding drill sergeant which is typical for the genre. "Tauca" feels like when Myspace's brand of emo collided with prog rock. Think Circa Survive in this regard. It has melody but really does not go anywhere with instead just languishes in their feelings. "Lava From the Sky" starts off by picking up where the previous song was meandering. There is a tension under all the elf dancing prog moments that does come to a head. Once we get to "the Dreamer and His Dream" they have clearly begun to perfect their twist and turning style of emo prog. 

The last song does not change my feelings about this band. It does display some of the heavier more djent leanings. The guitar has more attack. The almost Elliot Smith like timbre of the sung vocals does not hamper the end result. The second half of the song gets more melodic and is very well done. It is worth multiple listens and I get how someone can be into these guys even if it is not my preferred brand of prog. I will give this album an 8.5, as it is very well done and an enjoyable listen even if to my ears it is not the most engaging. If you are into emotional prog with djent math tricks up their sleeves, then this band is for you.