PROVIDENCE

I must start this review by saying that I am one of the rare fans who were not blown away by the band's previous album, Noir (it does have a few great songs, whilst others I would call rather mediocre, eventually tiring me down with each listen), whilst for me the later albums of theirs stand out. Especially Providence, which is one wicked mixture! Mixture of what? Take excellent vocals (with some heavy throat singing) and jaw dropping bass work, add some highly emotional melodies ranging from the most dreamy downtempo guitars the band has ever done to some fair deal of metal riffage, an atmosphere less gloomy than on Noir but still equally dark, and a range of instruments which do not necessarily seem to belong at first (saxophone, flute, mellotron), but only until you realize after a few listens just how amazing the whole thing sounds together. As if a modern Anekdoten has come together for some jamming with Cult of luna in the backyard of Iceland's Kontinuum, creating some truly beautiful post-metal with a sensibly strong Scandinavian Prog vibe. I know the five stars might seem like a bit of a stretch for some, but I simply cannot give this album a lower rating, looking at how innovative ideas it has and how cleverly and confidently these are being put together, ending in something that is not an easy listen but will pay off big-time with each listen.