UK-based metallers EXIST IMMORTAL are a bit of an enigma. Fusing Melodic Metal, experimental Metalcore and Prog, the end result is a darkly jack-of-all-trades that doesn't really venture too far in any singular direction, but rather pushes all four corners of the envelope. The technical riffing is there; the dual coarse/clean vocals are there; the dissonant chord ringing is there; the punchy grooves are there.

To 'get' this band is to listen to the full package; a couple of glimpses at certain timestamps on YouTube indicate "just another djent band", but after finishing each track, I wasn't left feeling like that at all, which brings me to the opening track. "Insanity Project" opens with some surprisingly powerful growls; not the painfully-weak high-pitched shrieks that plague other bands. The riffs in this track are trippy and jarring, though carrying an undeniable, liquid groove. This is perhaps one of the tracks better exemplary of clean vocals; again, not the piercing bleats of teen angst; definitely a strong point of the band. Strong in this department, also, is "In Parallax". In fact, this track blows the previous out of the water, with an incredibly diverse and epic arrangement with a strong emphasis on dynamism, and showcases brilliant lead guitar work.

"The Participant" is certainly one of the most, if not THE most balls-to-the-wall metal track on the album, which pushes the music the farthest in terms of sheer heaviness and technnicality. As far as being a religiously enthusiastic proghead goes, "Embrace the Cycle" had to be my favourite track. Easily one of the most melodic arrangements on the record, its explosive and frenetic passages are perfectly suited for a sole-showcase of clean vocals. Part way through, the track experiences a rather magical, anthemic moment, where the tempo is brought down, but the dynamite is packed up to the corners of their soundscape.

Pay heed, this is a LONG album, with a lot going on at once for long periods of time. If bland metal is your thing, then don't bother bending your ear. There are a few instances of commercial-sounding passages, which may deter the most astute of metal nerds wielding the power of the internet, but it's unlikely even they will pick up on it amongst the rest of the aural euphoria.