To "wow" one at first listen is the a strong indication to the merit of an album, but the proof is in the pudding; the third release by USA Melodic Death Metal band AMBIENT DEATH resonates precisely with "my frequency", if you will. Quaintly vague metaphors aside, this band prides themselves on creating music that bursts free of the cliche'd mindcage of the modern market share of the genre, and the metal that is displayed is, in a word, superior.

"Apotheosis of the Hangman"; surely, the beginning of the record is proof enough. It is a monumental piece of extreme music of epic proportions, that transcends stylistic expectations; what we have is a piece of art arranged and executed with organic precision. Melody is not overused, and simply accentuates the riffs, yet a certain strong point of the band are its lyrics and vocals. Lucas possesses a vicious, emotional voice that spits lyrics with startling diction, and is utterly commanding of the atmosphere. The riffs of this track are greater in the second half, with delicious interplay between grooves and a series of memorable bass solos.

The album's title track strongly adheres to an throughput of bleak and beatifully-painted atmosphere through wistful and melancholic chord progressions. An early BORKNAGAR or AMORPHIS influence is detected here, at least from the "Empiricism" era, if not for a few moments; the track reaches nearly 8 minutes, and expresses a pleasurably followable evolution of arrangement, kept at drowning middle tempos.  "All too Human" is a veritably lengthy, complex and colorful piece of music that closes the record. We hear alternations between incredibly heavy Death grooves, and expressive, expansive sections of blast beats, save not the sudden and surprising passages filled with quiet, ambient atmosphere; some of the album's greatest moments are contained in this track.

Purely astounding, and certainly up there with recent releases from the likes of ALLEGAEON and BE'LAKOR, it makes me question the credibility of the appreciation shown for much bigger bands who's modern efforts pale in comparison.