From their webpage, “DEREV is a progressive rock band captivating global audiences with its innovative blend of progressive rock and traditional middle-eastern music. After fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada. Drummer Michel Karakach reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into a powerful reality. The band's dynamic lineup now includes bassist Stan Komarovsky, keyboardist Ran Zehavi, and vocalist Mike Symons. They continue to carve out a unique niche in the music world. Their innovative sound promises to captivate new listeners and industry veterans alike.”

The album has eight songs, and “Buried Voice” is first. The entering tones are smooth, but dark, and the bass work is excellent. There is a good deal of tension here as well, and the song exists in endless grey skies. “Cyclone” has similar dark tones, and they speak of regret for me. The song is very emotional, and you can hear it in the vocals especially. Each time they rise, so do you, and each time they fall, your gut follows suit. “Crawl Space” is a shorter song, and that’s exactly how it makes me feel…like I am trapped somewhere with very little room to move around. It’s claustrophobic. Gentle piano notes are the main medium here, but they bite. “Room 9” has sharper guitar tones from some distortion, and again, the sound is very tense and dark.

“Paracusia” has some entering tones that remind me of RUSH, in the way that guitar, bass, and drums combine. There are also some eerie keyboards. The word translates to “an auditory hallucination.” “Tides of Time” returns to the gentle but dark tones where despair seems to have taken up residence. The vocal harmonies echo this sentiment in waves. “Darker Self” moves with a firmer bottom end of a distorted riff, meaty bass notes, and drumming that is almost jazzy. “In my darkest hour, take me higher (or set the fire)” he muses. “Trace Within” closes the album, and depending on your interpretation, it could be living in regret, or rising above it and moving on. The best part of the album is the band’s ability to carry strong emotions into their music. Many of the songs are not complicated, but they are loaded with feelings. I’m not sure I have heard a Progressive album that is this unpretentious and this emotional at the same time.