ROMANCING THE ETHER

I've been following Hemina for quite some time now, back when they released their first ep As We Know It. They showed promise as an original sound in prog metal back then, and now 5 albums deep they are still surprising me. After the concise Night Echoes album which I still really loved for its emotive vocals and lush chords, we are presented with one giant 35 minute slab of prog. The music dances through orchestral strings, to shredding guitar and tender vocals. All the ingredients are here that Hemina usually deliver on but the production and arrangements are firing on all cylinders. I don't seem to get many promos coming my way these days but every few years or so a Hemina album ends up in my inbox and it's usually a great day.

There are a couple of jarring moments like the techno sounds that appear 25 ish minutes in but I adjusted to them and I can see what the band were trying to do.

Standout part was the 3rd movement "Embraced by Clouds", that really goes in a million different directions which is exciting and fresh. The middle choral section reminded me of Eric Whitacre with lots of clashing notes that are dissonant yet pleasing.