THE WORLD IS QUIET HERE

Prologue is at times haunting, at times maddened, at times (indeed, most times) devastating. At times, it grips with violent desperation, at times steeps you in melancholy. It is a story of deep existential failure that resounds with denial, disappointment, and despair and yet it does not fail to laugh defiantly in the face of it all, interjecting some delightful chaotic elements that keep it lively and colorful, so you never quite know what to expect.

Though the album is not lacking in heavy, relentless rhythms and leans most heavily on death growls, there are plenty of melodic elements throughout, with a variety of vocal and musical styles that is impressive to say the least. A small sampling includes: deep-voiced swoops usually found in grunge, some catchier lines that wouldn't seem remiss in gypsy punk, a chant that makes one think of Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, a splash of black metal vocals that adds some color to the growls. Some parts remind me of Giant Squid; some guitar slides have a bit of a Haken sound to them; amidst all this, there are some wonderful sillier jazzy bits (a lighter Mr. Bungle?) to lend it all a proper chaotic edge; some brighter guitar parts provide an occasional counterpoint to the tension; the closing "Aperture" sounds like what one might find on the lighter side of maudlin of the Well.

But all of these are woven seamlessly into the whole and wholly transformed: there's no question that they belong here, and no question that they belong to The World is Quiet Here and to them alone. In itself, the album is a solid and cohesive entity that draws you in from the start and takes you through countless twists and turns, to a conclusion that leaves you in quiet awe of what just transpired, not wanting to break the end-of-album silence lest it disrupt any remaining echoes.

A must for anyone interested in tech/extreme prog metal, experimental/post metal, and prog metal in general - and heavy prog if death growls are alright by you. If harsh vocals are out of the question, the instrumental version of the album is excellent in itself. However, the vocals do contribute to the emotional intensity here, and there are plenty of melodic passages to tide you over, so it is worth giving it a chance whatever your usual preferences. Regardless of which genres you favor, there's a wide enough range that there should be something for everyone; the variety will keep your interest, and the creativity, emotional power, and technical skill of the band are undeniable.