Welcome to Romania, home to Transylvania and the impressive Bran Castle, closely associated with the Dracula legend. But it is home to much more than that. The sweeping forests of the Balkan state are the prowling grounds of something much more sinister, KULTIKA. The four-piece having been dabbling across genres, with their early releases being more to the Black Metal stylings, evolving over time to their most recent release, "Capricorn Wolves".

The artwork is rugged, but it has an ethereal effect. It is very enjoyable to look at, but at the same time it is nothing special to write home about. "Building Nothingness Inside Faith" is exactly what it says on the tin, a lengthy introduction that builds from the nothingness and pulls you into a trance. It gives you the faith, blind faith to continue this foray into the unknown willingly and headfirst. But as we accelerate full throttle into "Under The Hollow Sun" it is clear that the evolution I mentioned earlier is complete. The aggressive and breakneck riffs of the Blackened past have made way for a more progressive sound. But what really caught my attention was the perfectly intertwined tracks that made this from an already impressive track to an instant classic for me.

"Capricorn Wolves" continues this swirly and mysterious air, the effect is mesmerizing. As Popescu's sultry and delicate clean vocals snare you and reel you in, before blasts of aggression and energy that gave me goosebumps. It is reminiscent to me of some of the Melodic Death bands, not quite to the finesse that one would see with DARK TRANQUILITY or the newer aged stylings of IN FLAMES but there is something there that is transcending the boundaries of genre, blending what is beautiful of everything together (apart from some super cheesy power metal solo, as amazing and hilarious as it would have been) in a seemingly effortless performance.

The full talent of the band can be seen, for me, in "I Have Returned". The impeccably mixed tracking feels weightless but is also so full of nuances and flickers of that you can feel the depth without being burdened by it... If that makes sense? The flicks between intensity levels, signposted by the switch in vocal styles is, again, a touch of class that really sets "Capricorn Wolves" out above a lot of what I have heard recently. It is simply first class. But don't take my word for it, get stuck into it and have a listen, I'd love to hear what you thought of the last couple of tracks!

Overall, I cannot recommend this album enough. The music flows so eloquently, it just passes through you in the purest aural ecstasy. If this was a statement of intent laid down by KULTIKA consider it heard, I will be watching with a keen interest to see where this promising and exciting band will find themselves.