IN HUMAN FORM is a Progressive Black Metal band that formed in 2006 in the USA. They are good at keeping a low profile; lurking in the shadows of the underground world. The band has branded their sound as "Atra Metalli Metaphysicam": an "audacious blend of Aggressive Black Metal and Progressive music, tinged with Jazz-fusion colors." IN HUMAN FORM released their debut full-length album "Earthen Urn" in 2013 and are back with their follow up effort "Opening of the Eye by the Death of the I". Is that the best album name ever? Yes. Yes, it is and it comes in with six tracks and listening time of a balmy 54 minutes.

The opening track "Le Délire des Négations" comes with a march style drum and a bit of synth work to accentuate the melancholy choir vocal. This 54 second opener is like the spiraling down of the rabbit hole. It's a knowing that the world we are currently in will become distant and flipped on its end.

"All is Occulted by Swathes of Ego", track two, comes in at just over fourteen minutes. We now know that this is for sure a Progressive influenced album, because, track length. It comes in much harder but transitions flawlessly; keeping a similar tempo and style to the opener. The guitars come in bringing with them a distinct melody unheard until now. At about 3:20, we get an interesting rhythm change that is precise and downright good music flows from it. The vocals are very Black Metal in style with a more screamed bark. The bass is thick and chunky. The guitars are low and deep. The drums are abysmal and create the glue for the track. They stick everything together but also stick rhythm changes without fail. This is an excellent track.

Track three, "Apollyon Synopsis" is a 2:04 instrumental that would easily be found in a super Progressive album, but with a little bit of a heartbeat that goes along with a more plucked guitar. This track implements a sound that is clean, pleasing, and has tinges of the hard and deep components of Death Metal.

The transition into "Zenith Thesis, Abbadon Hypothesis", track four, is a little disjointed. It was a bit distracting. It does quickly straighten out, however, there is still some disorderly rhythms in the track opener. Some listeners will find this blast of incohesiveness fun and admirable. I find it aimless and spasmodic. When the vocals come in, the track seems to streamline. Once the streamline occurs we get a glimpse of how great the bass play is here. While the drums and the guitars are nicely done, the bass steals the shows. After about four minutes in (the usual length of an average track) there is an established flow that isn't so chaotic and it actually shows off a nice musicianship. There is a little Spanish flare mixed into this Metal via the guitars. At about 10 minutes in the track slows down in a perfect cutoff form. The music that is produced here is exquisite and the move back to a heavier sound is seamless. This one started out being confusing but ended as a valuable track.

"Ghosts Alike", track five, comes in soft with a light percussion and simple plucking. There is illusory in this one. While the music is simple, catching, and has a fluidity about it; there feels like there is something lurking behind the essence of the track. Perhaps something we'll find in the final track?

The closing track, "Through an Obstructionist's Eye", comes in at a cool 16 minutes. Coming off the outro of a very soft "Ghosts Alike", this track comes in soft but a bit more distorted. At about 30 seconds in, most signs of softness disappear and we are left with a crushing track. The Progressive elements are stunning and when intertwined with the heavier elements, they stand out excellently. Rhythm changes are executed perfectly from all levels. The outro is a nice, soft end to an otherwise, crushing track. The album came in deep in anthem-esque style and ends in a light and airy form.

IN HUMAN FORM's mix of a more Traditional Death Metal with Progressive Metal is brilliant. There is plenty of Death and Progressive elements to appease listeners of both genres, but more so, it will appease most metal heads. There is some really good stuff packed inside "Open of the Eye but the Death of the I". Give it a whirl.