Dan Swano is back again after much hype about his latest project, WITHERSCAPE. There only remains one last question - does it live up to the promises? To put it simply, "The Inheritance" has what I call the triumvirate of Metal records - originality, technicality, and heaviness. The last one is a no brainer. With that in the bag, let me move on to explain just how awesome "The Inheritance" is.

In addition to possessing to three key elements that will make any Metal record great, the album has something extra: sophistication that comes from Swano's years of experience in the business. Through that medium, the album ends up opening sounding like a classic already. It has these heavy guitars playing in a very old school BLACK SABBATH style at some points, drifting off into a technical frenzy that is very much reminiscent of OPETH. It ends up having an instant classic sound - and this is carried throughout the very dynamic and musically versatile album.

There is almost everything to be heard here - after all, this is a Progressive Death Metal record at its core. Creativity is abounding, and where the faster tracks excite, the slower tracks mesmerize. Swano sings a lot on this album, but there are also growls and screams here and there - adding to the fullness of the album's musical experimentation. Synths are also utilised, as in the slower yet highly dynamic track "Astrid Falls". Where his vocals turn to growls, I felt chills and was instantly pulled into the vibe of the song. His voice is immaculate - as many of his fans already know, but rejoice now in the knowledge that it only seems to be getting better!

The guitar work is highly technical where leads are concerned, and simple yet impactful on the rhythm side. Manipulation of the instrument doesn't get any better than with this power duo that brings Tom Morello philosophy under a Progressive Metal light - fusing listenability with what honestly sounded like guitarist Widerber whacking away and just having some plain old fun. The vibrant and soulful partnership between Swano and Widerber shows in their music - it isn't just metal without a cause. There is great depth to their songs, evident through the complexity of every track.

Overall, this is a splendid album of indescribable quality. You can find some Country, Jazz, Rock, Progressive, Death Metal... almost everything has been incorporated into the album - yes, even synths. And through this brimming melting pot of colour, WITHERSCAPE has created an album that is surely not only as good as it sounds, but will continue to make an impact in the Progressive Metal field.