After the Goth Metal trend in the early years of the 2000s, the genre felt into the underground again, and there are few acts using the melodic outfit used by bands fronted by female vocals. But some surprises appear from time to time, as the Finnish sextet MIST DESCENDS, here with “Horizons”. As the lines above state clear, this is a melodic Heavy Metal act with traces inherited from Gothic Metal and Symphonic Heavy Metal as well, guided always by the cross between silk and introspective moments with a heavier set of influences on some moments (as heard on the contrasts heard on “Tears from the Sky”).

It’s not bad at all, but the band needs to sharp their musical efforts in a better way in the future. It’s clear that they have potential, but are still needing to mature their music. Another point that needs attention in the future is the sonority. The production was done in a way that the songs are sounding hollow in some moments, and too plastic as well. It’s heavy and melodic, but there are moments when things sound into a mechanical way. It’s not bad, but could be better with a more organic insight.

“Hexagon” is a song pointing into something into Symphonic Metal with some melancholic traces from Gothic Metal, with good orchestrations. On “Soul of a Masochist”, the band uses a heavier temper to its melodies, with very good guitar riffs and arrangements (that are strangulated by the plastic sound of the album). On “Tears from the Sky”, the band presents some contrasts between tender parts with female vocals dominance and some heavier moments with mainly tunes, but it could be better shaped in some moments. The Folk flavor of “Waves of Nice” is very good, with clean guitars and keyboards working in a very graceful form along the vocals. And “M.A.B.D.” explores accessible Industrial Rock/Synth Pop elements, based on sound effect and vocals, with many melodic hooks, and very good work on bass guitar and drums. And on “Blind Hope”, the band again shows the combination between Symphonic Metal melodies and Gothic Rock elements, with darker ambiences.

MIST DESCENDS just needs to evolve a bit more, because their music is good (and can be better), but the fans of melodic trends in Metal will surely like “Horizons”.