Here's another Scandinavian band who's 2007 debut album here comes on the back of heavy support touring last year and a vote as one of Metal Hammer UK's Top Unsigned Bands of 2006.

Whilst there's no doubt the five piece have something I can't help thinking that they are just too many styles, and potentially non-complementary styles at that, to breakthrough. Take for instance the first couple of tracks. Both have extremely hard hitting riffs yet retain a melodic beat whilst somehow marginalizing the whole effect with overly aggressive 'death metal' rants passing as vocals. Now melodic death metal may be a tag they can claim to be delivering yet later on in the album is a fine piece of prog-metal, well sung too, entitled "Descent" that demonstrates a fine collective talent.

It depends on the breadth of your taste I guess but to swing from the heavy but melodic to death growl fury and back at will, and still succeed in impressing supposes the listener will follow...and I just couldn't. It may be that band members coming from previous tenures of IN FLAMES to EVERGREY means too many personal styles have to be catered for? It could even be that there are even two potential projects here being sold as one?

I suppose this release could be called diverse, and there's definitely some good stuff to be found, but I'd skip the shouting.

- Leslie

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