From Bandcamp, "VELOTHIAN is a five-piece Blackened Metal band from Portland OR. Elements of Post Metal, Folk, and Shoegaze are woven together. We draw inspiration from nature, science fiction, and fantasy. "Mythic Dawn" is their sophomore release, and aims to keep the existing experimentation and ambience that made Path of the Incarnate so unique and go for a more triumphant and epic feel this time around. Fans of the first record can look forward to the continued use of unique instrumentation on "Mythic Dawn" including piano, throat singing, flute, horns, orchestral percussion, and more." The album has seven songs, and "The One from My Dreams" is first. The vocals are blackened for sure, but the music moves with some melody along with stark aggression. It has a rich, full, and even sweeping sound from background elements as well. "Forgotten Ruins" takes atmosphere to another level in the genre. It builds a picture in the background of lush greens and flowers, even though the vocals rage overhead like the darkened skies of a storm. "The Great Forest" begins with birds chirping, something that you might find while exploring the wilderness. The vocals rage with fury but the music holds an even keel…it's like the undulation of the tides and you never know what might be coming. The leads sing with emotion…it could be pain, or a different expression.

"Night Mother" is longest, and a thunderclap opens the song. Pensive guitar notes join as the band begins to set the stage. Horrid vocals rush in to color the song with darkness. The riffs are towering here…moving and powerful. "Deadlands" has riffs that move and some might even call them Progressive in nature. So far, the band refuses to sit still in familiar territory and that might be their crowning feature. "Mania" begins with gentle acoustic guitars, and an air of tension hanging in the background. It moves quickly to a riff with beef, and then takes off. "Dragonflies" is the final offering, and it's dark. The riffs are study, and the melody is steady. The rage is only bested by the level of atmosphere and melody the band employs, and the two hang in a delicate balance. The Black Metal genre has become quite expansive lately, and VELOTHIAN take full advantage of that. The vocals are pretty straightforward in terms of how they are delivered, but the music takes the album to a whole different place. The "conflict" between the two varying styles actually works very well together. This was an excellent album.