PENUMBRA DIFFUSE

I used to acquire this album a long time ago when more technical always meant better to me. This album would have benefited from it. In the meantime, I have a more complex view on progressive metal including arrangements, compositional aspects. The first album was quite chaotic and all over for my taste, the second album shows a bit more focus on certain development of music ideas and structure, but still, virtuoso playing with all members "showing off" sometime simultaneously, is the first point on agenda.

Even after multiple listenings, there is a lot to discover, and on the other hand, not much to stay in memory. The first track is a good demonstration of this - it's a collection of playing chops, rather than a composition. "Horizonal Radiant" fares better since thanks to the melodic guitar motive, different playing moods and a couple of calmer simpler sections. The jazzy guitar playing is delicate. The third track " Accidents In Mutual Silence" is actually also quite good thanks to riffing, progressive metal playing and certain cohesion. "Vaihayasa" confirms that lads are dnot afraid of looking left and right for new styles - acoustic and oriental is the right enrichment. "Luminescence" is the second long highlight here - a bit dark but mellow King Crimsony guitar picks and a variety. This album may be boring to traditional prog-rock fans but will appeal to the harder oriented fans that have time and patience to listen to this album multiple times before judging.