Formed in 2007 in the Bay Area of California, USA, CORMORANT is a Progressive Black/Death Metal band, with three previous full-length releases under their belt. The word "cormorant" is a Latin contraction of the words "corvus marinus," which translates in English to "sea raven." With a string of influences that range from Thrash to Prog to Death, the band does not subscribe to any particular genre. "Diaspora" was just released a few weeks ago, and contains four massive tracks; the shortest at eight minutes and the longest at 26. "Preserved in Ash" leads off the album, with a thick and full sound, fierce Death Metal vocals, breakneck drumming, and guitar riffs that easy to comprehend. It is definitely an amalgam of both Black and Death metal on some level, but they are right in that it doesn't fit neatly into a hole. It is very much their own sound. Marcus's vocals in the higher range remind me of Jari from WINTERSUN, with that bite he has. The Progressive elements don't come from meter changes but rather the way they structure the writing and the chord progressions...very forward thinking. The final three minutes are a harrowing decent of doom; like listening to someone's last dying gasps.

"The Sentinel" is a near-sixteen minute opus. At first it moves slowly, and then picks up a bit, with some odd chord patterns...they seem unorthodox in the major key when you consider the other elements of the song like the vocals and guitar riffs. It's not a bad thing...just something that takes the tonal receptors in your mind a bit to grasp. Just before the half way mark, the sound drops to a melodic interlude that is dreary but easy on the ears. The lamenting clean vocals almost make it sound hopeful...almost...but there is vileness bubbling under the surface. The third track, "The Devourer," is the shortest, at just under eight minutes. It has a doomy sound and the mix of clean and harsh vocals combined with some subtle meter shifting makes it an intriguing listen. I have to say that all rules are out the window when it comes to the riffs. Besides being very weighted, they don't have many conventional qualities at all.

The final track is a 26 minute oeuvre, titled "Migration." At first it lumbers...shaking the ground...like the footsteps of a stone giant through a mountain pass. But it picks up speed and sonority as it moves forward, gaining in complexity and haste. The riffs are crushing and the trail of smoke that they leave behind as the notes are replaced threaten to choke the life out of you. But there are tender moments as well. Though dark and gloomy they show a finesse and composure that come from creative and seasoned songwriting. The instrumental passage that occupies the center part of this song is just that. You really don't want it to end because it is so elegant. It builds to a crescendo with lead guitar and drum fills until the final four minutes return with anger and resolve.

Take a look at the album cover as a clue to what you might expect here...everything and anything...peculiar and deviant...an abstract take on the genre with insight and psyche. It was quite enjoyable to listen too; heavy enough for passionate Metal fans to fulfill their need for power and brutality and unique enough for those fans like myself who are always looking for something new out there. I have always said that this particular genre in these modern days is like the picture of the proverbial iceburg under ocean water. The part that you can see (the bands that you can name), which looks massive, is actually only 10% of what lies beneath the surface. This is one of the bands and albums that needs to be brought up to the consciousness of all fans of Extreme metal.