Many bands have pondered the cosmos throughout the years, from Canadian Prog / Thrash Metal heroes VOIVOD to the American speed demons in VEKTOR. COMA VOID, a solo project by multi-instrumentalist Okul, is not anything like those two acts musically, but the band's own identity suits it just fine.

"Coma Void" is lengthy for an EP, an atmospheric and melodic work that chugs along at the speed of slow. With all due respect, because this comment is not necessarily a reflection of how well I think the music is played or composed; the songs on this EP feel like Metal background music. I wouldn't play this record when I want to be active or jam out really hard to something, but I think it would make killer menu music to a space-themed video game or something similar. I do mean that in the nicest way possible, too; this isn't simply a Metal elevator music. Each song is very strong. The melodies are memorable, and the instrumentation is very solid, but like other records of the Doom Metal variety, it can get repetitive after a while, and depending on your musical tastes, this can either be enjoyable or get old very quickly. There is not a lot of variety from track-to-track. Lyrics are at a premium, as Okul's dark, thoughtful poetry is delivered in the form of harsh, inaudible whispers amongst the cascade of riffs and other sound effects; one could easily listen to the nearly 20-minute long "Heat Death Threnody" and completely miss the vocals.

This, however, serves the songs well, as COMA VOID, to me, is more about the sum of the parts than any one thing in particular. Each track, every instrument, captures the feeling of a dark, enigmatic, all-consuming void in the best way possible. It is a record that, with closed eyes, you can kind of feel as much as you listen to. The guitar tone is understated, but still clear, fitting in with the other instruments as just another piece of the puzzle, and, to me, has a better effect because of it. Unlike, say, Thrash or Death Metal, these songs' strengths lie more in its subtleties than anything else. The opening piano chords of "Accretion / Ejection" are about as in-your-face as infrared light, but, along with the ambient effects complementing the music, they do set the tone very well as the remaining instruments join in soon after. The aforementioned "Heat Death Threnody" (a 'threnody' being a song / hymn of mournful memorial to the departed) is winding, dark and crushing; simply put, it is named perfectly. "Plasma Lode Exile" is another standout number for a lot of the same reasons.

"Coma Void" doesn't really offer much in terms of innovation, but it is still an interesting, well-executed debut release, and something fans of Doom and atmospheric Metal should find entertaining.