From their Bandcamp page, "DAY OF DEPARTURE combines elements of Post-Rock, Ambient, Progressive Rock, and Hard Rock to arrive at a unique sonic landscape that seeks to balance the varied influences and inspirations from its creators. Their debut album here contains ten tracks. "...And We Prepare for Our End" opens the album. Dreamy, melancholic but dark tones open up the album, after the sun sets on a hard day. Clean female vocals mix with heavy guitar rhythms. The vocal work of Michelle grows more pensive and expressive as the song moves along.

"At the Edge of Annihilation" begins with clean guitars and some more solemn tones. A steady rhythm develops, with soft and easy vocals. The song gets little angrier perhaps after the half-way mark, when it opens up with more sonority. She is begging the listener to take notice of her message in a sense. "The Light in Our Eye Grows Dim" is quite a stark title for a song. This song is all about the atmosphere...a faint pulse can be heard in the background, serving as the last bit of light in your eye. "Pierce the Sky (Conflict)" opens with a bit of a harder sound. Drums roll forward tensely, with background vocals and some dark guitar work. The main riff kicks in close to the half-way mark, and the vocals build to pained screams. The sound turns more positive toward the closing of the song...with pretty and catchy tones, before ending on the same dark riff from earlier.

"Ex Machina" opens with dancing lead guitar notes along with bass, before waves come at you in the chorus. Waves of euphoria, but also waves of frustration. It is exactly this dichotomy that characterizes the sound on the album so far. "Life Prevails" pushes more positive tones forward, as the title suggests. This little number is catchy but also a bit sad, as if you don't know the trails that the subject had to endure in order to reach the point of succeeding. The pain is reflected in the final vocal sequence. "The Future Has No Form" is a shorter song that features more tense and dark tones. It swells with black and cloudy forms in the background, which eventually fade away.

"Living Matter" begins with a slow, clean guitar riff and harmonized vocals. The slow and steady pace begins to wear you down after a while, mired in questions that you have that you cannot find the answers to. You are forced to wander around aimlessly, contemplating your fate. A heavier riff kicks in at the end, urging you to get out of the clouds and face reality. "Awaken to the Beyond" opens with more pensive vocals, as you rise and take in the world for the first time in a while. What do you see? Your vision is clear for the first time in a while, but you are still not sure what is out there. "The Beyond" closes the album. It's a short, two-minute ambient closer with sweeping but simple arrangements that leaves an indelible mark on the listener.

I found this album to be exactly how it was advertised. Several styles are reflected here, with about as many different emotions as the human being can go through. It's very personal journey, with thoughtful ponderings around every turn. Let yourself get swept away into their world, full of dark visions and figures, but with just enough light that you will go forward and not turn back. Embrace your future, for it is the only one you have.