The Dutch FACES OF CAIN, are not your run-of-the-mill Melodic Death Metal band and this is very obvious from the very beginning of this twenty-six-minute EP entitled "Archetype of Might", and that's due to incorporation of elements not so typically found within the subgenre. Opening with "Envoy from Sheol", we can easily tell that this album has got something special to offer. Alongside the awesome riffs, the band incorporates an eerily beautiful variety of vocals, intertwining (obviously) typical Death Metal growls with deep clean vocals, almost operatically baritone. I know this is most likely to irritate purist fans of the subgenre, but I find this latter vocal style very appealing. In fact it lends the band's sound a fairly familiar yet strikingly unique vibe of something between MOONSPELL, STAM1NA and RAMMSTEIN. Some might compare any deep male vocals to Peter Steele's, hence suggesting a TYPE O NEGATIVE influence, but I would totally disagree for this obviously doesn't sound the least bit like my green heroes. The songs also feature a heavy use of keyboards making it totally fine to dub their style "Symphonic Melodeath", to my own dismay, as this sounds somewhat corny. Despite the implications of this particular label, FACES OF CAIN, to be sure, sound nothing like SEPTICFLESH, nor FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, as this is Melodic Death Metal rather than Technical/Atmospheric Death, except maybe in the final track "Virus". You still get all the breakneck riffing mingled with keyboard melodies in a very Finnish way, yet everything is symphonically ornamented in a typical Dutch way.

The EP is relatively short, catchy and enjoyable. However, I'm convinced that it will surely disturb many people who simply won't be able to stomach the mix of the deep vocal style with Melodic Death Metal. I think the band managed to stand out of the lot due to this very element. It added a subtle gothic touch to their style, which is, in my opinion, very appreciated.

"Virus" borders on SEPTICFLESH.<