From Bandcamp, “Everything flows, nothing ever stays the same. The same can be said about the third studio album of the fast-rising Dutch rock band DOOL. Aptly entitled "The Shape of Fluidity," there is not just musical innovation but the full-length revolves around themes of personal change, physical change, psychological change, and the ever-changing world around us.” The album has nine songs.

“Venus in Flames” is first. It’s an intriguing sound that I really haven’t heard before…the music is somewhat dark and tense, mostly from the riff and the vocals, but it’s an accessible sound tinged with a little psychedelica. “Self-Dissect” also has some of that hypnotic, “desert rock” sort of sound, and the band is able to find a balance in the song between accessibility and shadow. As a listener, I can feel the flow of changing skies. The title track has some beefy keyboard notes, with clean guitar, and emotive vocals. I get a bit of Doom from the main riff as well, and this band seems to have an exploratory nature to their music so far.

“Currents” is a short little connecting song that seems to keep the album’s theme in mind…fluidity, and change. “Evil in You” is succinct. Meaty bass notes carry some of the early sound, together with harmonized vocals. At times, I get a throwback sound, but other times, it is more modern. Occupying that space is crowded. “House of a Thousand Dreams” also has a tense sound, warning of something out there. The vocals are smooth, and slowly begin to drift somewhere between being awake and being asleep. “Hermagorgon” has a sturdy and heavier tone at first, that segue into melancholy vocals. From there, it’s a battle between these two sounds. “Hymn for a Memory Lost” is a bit of a sad statement, with a sad sound to go with it. I also hear grungy, sludgy tones at times.

“The Hand of Creation” closes the album, with a droning, bass led song that never really seems to go anywhere. That last statement seems to encapsulate the album for me. Within the context of change, things are constantly in flux. It’s almost as if we have no purpose. But when you think about it, change is one thing we all have to navigate daily, and it doesn’t mean you can’t find the right path. For me, therein lies the paradox of the album.