They took their time getting great guitar sounds that are crisp and have the effects fine tuned with each note. The spoken word sections are one of the reoccurring themes mentioned earlier. If you normally listen to death doom that leans more toward death metal, you will still be impressed by the resonate gurgle of the low growls that are delivered with both power and articulation. Often growled vocals are obligatory, we know we need vocals, none of us can sing, so lets throw some growls in. The lyrics do not have to matter, it is just another texture. That is not the case here, which is evident in how they sit upfront in the mix of this album. "Chasing Ghosts" works off a more mournful doom feel, almost like very melodic funeral doom. "the Calling" finds the pace picking up and a more grooving drive that reminds me of some of the death n roll from the 90s. I might not be the heaviest moment of the album, but it puts the song first and that works for me. In fact it is almost catchy which how often do you think that when it comes to this . Midway into the song it drops down into ambiance and then builds back up into a heavier more commanding chug.
"Even Tide" is well melodic, perhaps too much so. It is a call and a response between spoken word vocals and actual singing. They get credit for doing it but not sure it works with the momentum of the album and feels more like an interlude. They love using piano. "Closing the Circle" opens up with piano and more poetry being spoken. Though this only lasts of the first minute and a half. Very European in delivery, Novembers Doom would be a fair reference point when they wander down the darker more melodic paths. The guitar solos on this album are tasteful and really well done, if you are into that sort of thing. "Breath New Life" finds them digging back into a more driven form of melodic death metal that is still very European in it's grandiose sense of majesty. It works for me, as it is heavier than flowery. It soars in a few sections but is grounded by the chugged guitar. They last song finds the lead in of piano, clean guitar and poetry becoming a bit excessive by this point as they needed to end things with a more metallic punch, it takes three minutes to get there. When it does get there it works fine, but not the album's strongest moment, however it is clear these guys excel at what they do so hard to find fault in anything except the pacing and almost overly indulgent emotional poetry, but I will still give this album a 9, as it is clearly the album they set out to make .
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