Blending elements of post-metal, post-rock, doomgaze and atmospheric intensity, ELBE has built a distinctive and evolving sound. Originally founded as an instrumental project by guitarists Standa Jelinek and Martin "Spacosh" Perina, the band has since grown into a complete lineup featuring drummer Jan Kylar, bassist Jan Stinka and most recently, new vocalist Pavel Hrncir. Hailing from Czechia, they present their latest effort here titled "Peculiar." The album has seven songs, and "Sen" is first. From the first few notes, you can tell the song is brooding with atmosphere. A heavy bottom end with thick, meaty bass notes combines with ethereal melodies over the top. The vocals are horrid utterings, but melody hangs tight in the air.

Moving to "Never Again," the frail melodies continue. For me, they are like colors swirling in the air at night that create a sense of wonder from the music. The harsh vocals cover the path in blackness however. "Place to Die" was the first video released ahead of the album. It has smoother edges, but still a good deal of tension and darkness. The clean vocals are welcoming, even though there is a nefarious surprise waiting for you as you pass the door. "You & Me and the End" is a more melodic take, but still quite somber. Although thick bass notes rattle the bottom end viciously, the clean vocals counter with a sense of warmth, and even comfort. "Before I Go" has another firm and weighted bed with feet firmly on the ground, and the clean vocals create a catchy groove over them. Keyboards add another element of melody to the song as well.

"Who Am I If Not Me" has smoother tones that are also introspective, and the vocal harmonies are they key. It is still somber, and dark at times, and those two things are like a sturdy thread woven into the album. "Slow Down!" is the final song, and perhaps a reminder for the listener. Dark melodies combined with weighted riffs, drums, and more thick bass notes, creating shifting skies and a sense of being unsettled, yet comfortable at the same time. This was an outstanding album for me in a few ways. First, the combination of several different genres created an album without labels, but with a strong sense of purpose. Second, the songs lived somewhere in that undefined space between heaven and hell, light and darkness, and it dipped into each side whenever it wanted to. This is one strong possibility of where Metal music is headed, and I love their unabashed abandon.