Out of all the sub-genre mash-ups that exist in the Metal universe, I still get surprised by some. Take Sci-Fi inspired Death Metal, for instance. But not just Sci-Fi mind you, Sci-Fi specifically from the 70s and 80s. While it may be super niche, it's awesome. And I'm still impressed over the fact that they managed to play a saxophone underneath a vapor cloud of tangled guitar chords and bone shattering blast beats in "Stars Reborn" and it doesn't sound out of place, just... right. Amazing. I'm still trying to figure out how many bands can get away with something like that.

There's a whole story this band is trying to tell. One worthy of a Black Mirror episode. It's a story about a terrifying alien hive-mind that sees humans as weak creatures with their consciousness' encased in frail, little meat sacks. The alien Starlit Flame wants to harvest every human consciousness in existence and upload it into its personal hive-mind. According to the band, "This results in a war between Mankind and an enemy that can hide inside anyone, influence them without ever knowing anything about it, in a world of paranoia and propaganda where every person you meet could be the enemy." Well, shit.

So, what does Sci-Fi Metal sound like? First, it really won't sound apparent until "Satellite". Second, it's a delicate balance of tech synth and soul-flaying guitar where neither try to out-compete the other. Two genres that get on surprisingly well. There are moving solos and somber lyrics in "Helios" with instrumentals adding a delicate touch of color to an otherwise bleak, post-apocalyptic landscape.

There are hidden synth gems peppered through "Retrograde" like delicate, pop-y notes, long droning ones burrowing in the song's undercurrent. Airy orchestral string-like notes hovering like wary seraphs, I could go on. Elena Cor Tauri's vocals in "Revenants" sound positively uplifting, vowing to rise against the evil Starlit, and destroy them. CORAXO are definitely mad, Metal scientists, creating a fragile yet thriving ecosystem of sound. With the same brush that painted a hopeless world of assimilating government, they add color and light makes your heart swell in your chest. "Sol" is truly beautiful and a wonderful follow up to their debut.