After previously having released three EP's, France based foursome CHAOS ECHOES have recently come out with their first full-length album, called "Transient". It contains seven well crafted and creepy sounding songs, that contain a lot of atmosphere and feeling. They take their time to do their thing as well. There is not one song that ticks off under five minutes, and the longest one even lasts for fourteen minutes. It's a true and refreshing listening experience.

The album starts off with an ominous sounding intro in "Senses of the Nonexistent", with some kind of bell to set the mood. After a minute or so the lead guitarist comes in and contributes immediately to the sound and atmosphere they want to create. Then the drum and the rhythm guitar join him, and from then on you're sucked into their sinister little world. About halfway the song, the singer begins to do his thing as well, and he makes it sound like the soundtrack of a movie where the zombies rise out of their graves and start to march towards everything that's still alive.

The first song flows seamlessly into the second one, "Interzone IV - Intoxicating Beauty", which has a similar build-up as the first one, minus the bell sound. It's becoming obvious why they describe their genre as Audio Darkness. I can't even compare it with any band that I know, which I think is something really positive. In this one, there aren't even any vocals.

"Advent of My Genesis" has a similar sound and structure, but in this one the guitars make their mark a lot more than in previous songs, as well as the drums. After five minutes in, they start to play a little faster and louder, which is a nice change of pace, and after nine minutes one of the vocalists joins in again, who seems to mutter something that could well have been an Edgar Allen Poe poem.

"Interzone V - Ignorance is Bliss" is a lot like the first couple of songs, but "Kyorakushugi" breaks with their habit of starting slowly. Drummer Ilmar Uibo can really unleash his devils in this one, and he does. "Interzone VI - Realization" and "Soul Ruiner" are again a lot alike the first few songs concerning the build-up and structure, but in this is case it doesn't become boring to listen to, 'cause you're really with them from the beginning. Hide yo kids and hide yo wives, gentlemen; CHAOS ECHOES is marching towards you.<