CHOIRS OF THE EYE

I really don't know what to say about this record, other than that it is one of the most beautiful, intense, visceral and creative albums I've ever heard. Appealing to both the mind and the soul, Choirs of the Eye is a must for listeners of all backgrounds. It features avant-garde arrangements, symphonic instrumentation, death metal outburts, and lush post-rock/metal atmospheres & dynamics. Everything just comes together so perfectly on this disc that it's simply mesmerizing and ineffable. "The Manifold Curiosity" has got to be one of the best pieces of music to be realized in the history of music, but that's not to say that the other tracks aren't close behind. "Marathon" is a tense opener, heavy, gripping first half, soft, enveloping second half; "A Pitcher of Summer" is a beautiful piece that gradually and almost unnoticeably slips into a bone-crushing close; "Wayfarer" is another beautiful one, very textural; "The Antique" closes the album with a little bit of everything, and man is it beautiful. I'm using the word "beautiful" to describe this one a lot. Frankly, I can't think of a better word to describe it. It's not your typical beauty, though. Again, very hard to describe - you must expereince it yourself to understand - but it can be nothing other than beauty. Despite prominent abstraction and dissonance, there is never a lack of feeling involved. Make no mistake, the root of this material is not cerebral, but emotional. Man, I can't get over how powerful this album is!

Choirs of the Eye is a musical landmark that must be heard by everyone. Some may not connect with it, but no one should miss the chance to try. The brilliance is unarguable. Thought and feeling is put into every note. It's simply amazing.