INTROVERT

Retrospective with this 5th modern album sounds in the line of Paradise Lost, Antimatter or even Pain Of Salvation for an evolving progressive metal; singular sounds disrupting the traditional framework, an extrovert sound dripping with energy, with tangled melodies, a masculine-feminine duet: Paradise Lost-style piano-based 'Log Out', crescendo and explosion with duet vocals, all on a plaintive note where heartbeats come to light; a crystalline fruity guitar break heightens the emotion. 'New Perspective' for a continuation in the same vein, beautiful and consensual with this vocal duo and the piano; the Gilmourian guitar solo sinks into a proven melancholic dark prog. 'Invincible Man' continues on a more synthetic tune this time and a languid echoing song, a beautiful title oozing with spleen which could be played on the radio if the world turned around more smoothly.

'Intoxicated Generation' returns to the airy piano intro, latency and sad atmosphere; a heavy riff breaks that up to take us on snowy dreamscapes; a mid-range Floydian riff on phrasing eyeing the archangel Gabriel; it's monolithic and you have to wait for the last two fabulous minutes to come out of the torpor. 'Away' for the song that stood out to me the most; programmed solemn rhythm, of the felted Paradise Lost, mid-oriental air where the piano flows; halfway through we emerge from this spleen with oriental percussion and the sensual, high voice of Beata; it's beautiful until the post Anathema solo. 'Self-Control' thwarts my impression by offering 'finally' a title that stirs from the start thanks to a synth in front; the sound becomes bombastic, airy and comes out of the doldrums, the solo wants to be evolutionary, enjoyable, letting go of the musical horses, extroverted.

Retrospective launches catchy sounds with piano at the base then the sound expands and amplifies. A story of addiction, alienation on a somewhat redundant concept album; the moods are...dark without being depressing; an aptly named introverted album that nevertheless shows its hidden side in its much more telling extroverted moments. (3.5)