DARK DECEIVER

4.5 stars.This well may be their heaviest and most complex record yet. I still feel that "Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond" is their best, but I also feel that each one of their studio albums are must haves if your into heavy / complex metal. I love them all. Chris Salinas is back on vocals while the Tipton twins and drummer Mike Guy have been constants from the beginning.

"The Power To Believe" is heavy right out of the gate. This is great ! Thunderous drums 2 minutes in. Jasun starts to rip it up in his unique style 3 minutes in. The vocals and soundscape after 5 minutes are killer. Chris really offers up some different vocal styles on this album. Blistering guitar solo after 6 minutes. A childs voice ends it. "Dark Deceiver" is so heavy to open it's ridiculous. Haha. Screaming vocals and scorching guitar create organised chaos. Tipton's guitar solos are over the top ! It settles down to a beautiful section with reserved vocals, almost like a drink of cool water on a hot and humid day. The heat comes back though, and it's blazing hot. Another calm ends the song. This final section really recalls OPETH's mellow moments. "Inner Spirit" is again hard and heavy to start. Killer bass and the guitar is fantastic. Vocals after 2 minutes. This is ground shakingly heavy. A calm with reserved vocals 6 minutes in. This is like heaven after 6 minutes of hell. Haha.This is such an incredible section that goes on until 10 minutes in when the heaviness is back. The lyrics are so spiritual and uplifting, not just on this song but throughout. I love the guitar and bass just before the crushing drums come back. Ripping guitar after 10 1/2 minutes.

"Resurrection" again has such cool lyrics. This song contrasts the heavy instrumental passages with the lighter vocal sections. "Tendonitis" opens and closes with a child speaking (some humerous words) and in between we get this mind blowing bass solo from Troy. "The Temple Within" is heavy to open (what else ?) as Chris comes in on vocals, he sings powerfully after a minute. A calm 4 minutes in. It's so emotional just before 5 minutes. Incredible lyrics. "Lies" opens with riffs as Chris cries out. He uses different vocal styles on this one. Pulverisingly heavy 3 minutes in. "The Passion Of Words" features some amazing bass and vocals. A calm before 2 1/2 minutes is quickly crushed. Great track. "Severed Angel" is an instrumental of different, distant industrial sounds (drums / bass) that build as they come and go. Amazing !

So darn close to 5 stars for me. I may grow to like this even better than "Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond". Very cool to see it clock in at around 44 minutes too.