FERAL is a modern black metal project which takes inspiration from the more old-school sounds of EMPEROR and BURZUM, as well as from the more contemporary AGALLOCH. There are some interesting lyrical themes in the mix, such as clairvoyance, celtic occultism and "the esoteric and mental conflict" (as described in the promo info).

The acoustic parts of the album are one of the highlights. On "The Calling", an eerie melody adds to the esoteric feel of the track. The acoustic intro of "Jaded By Modern Times" combines sweetly with the sounds of water rushing over rocks, and instrumental "Leila's Rainbow" is a moving interlude.

Unfortunately, the production is uneven. This makes the vocals unnecessarily irritating, since they seemed to be too high in the mix. While I usually enjoy high-pitched shrieks in black metal, they came across as strained in this case. A positive of the vocals, though, is their sincerity, whether they be black metal rasps or clean vocals. Speaking of sincerity, there are moments on "Forever Resonating in Blood" where all the elements come together to create a moving listening experience. This is especially true for "Nemetos Storm" and "As I Kneel Before Your Grave", which were also highlights for me. I would've preferred the psychelic effects to be left out of the coda of "Nemetos Storm", since the effects felt a bit incongruous with the rest of the music. Which is not to say that black metal can't be mixed with other genres; it's just that this particular mixture didn't work for me.

Another positive aspect of the album is J. Feral's electric guitar solos. The solo on "Second Sight", for example, is both beautiful and melancholy, and "The Purge" closes out with a strong solo. The bass guitar was mostly prominent throughout the album, and had a rich, earthy tone (if one can describe music as "earthy").

J. Feral's music has a passionate quality to it, and a few improvements could only add strength to the next FERAL release.