INSIDER

First of all I don't think this is nearly as good as their debut. Having said that I love the sound these guys create, all that bottom end with that dark mood. I also like the singers vocals a lot, which simply means when you add it all up this one's a winner regardless of how much better the debut is. Some feel that this band isn't very progressive. I honestly could care less about that. If they're on this site I rate them by how much I like the music, not by how proggy it is. I'm not smart enough to rate music that way.

"Gustav's Arrival" is one of the better tracks and a great way to start the album. It's actually only one of two instrumentals, so give them credit for making this the first song on here. It starts off spacey followed by some feedback then a full sound. The bass rocks in this one. Very powerful track. "O Fortuna" is faster paced but not as heavy to open. It's heavy now. Haha. Vocals a minute in. The drumming is fantastic ! This one kicks hard. "Insider" is my favourite song on the album. It opens with a nice guitar line before the power comes in. Vocals join in. Amazing sound, I love the bass. "Mongrel's Anthem" features some really crushing guitar passages. The drummer is beating the hell out of his drumkit. The vocals are especially good here. "R.I.P." is a good tune but seems to lack something.

"Strange Seas Of Thought" has this cool guitar intro as vocals and drums join in to great affect. That guitar melody returns 2 minutes in as drums pound. He cries out "Is there anybody out there !" I like this one alot. "Procedures" opens with samples of someone doing things and then they start typing as the guitar comes in and mimics the typing. Very cool sound. Riffs follow and vocals join in. Such a catchy track. "Elysian Gold" has some meaningful lyrics while the drumming dominates. Great vocals and a powerful ending. "Oort" is really a 1 1/2 minute intro for the next track. We get heavy, spacey soundscapes that end with a beat as it blends into "What Is Music ?". Vocals arrive a minute in. Nice heavy sound. "Hymn Of The Aten" opens with a brief spacey section then TOOL-like drumming comes in. This is dark and heavy as vocals arrive. Crushing sound before 2 minutes. Excellent tune. "Map Of An Imaginary Place" has this incredible low end sound, lots of bottom end. Vocals are reserved, and it settles down when he sings. Nice contrast.

Nice album.