In 2020 the world was introduced to INDIGO RAVEN via a self-titled four track EP. Following a single called "Into Dust", released in early 2021, they returned in October of this year with their first full length release called Looking For Transcendence, while welcoming in a third member to the band with Jean Green (also in Mourir) on bass, matching the sludge doom intensity of Benoît and complimenting the clear and haunting vocals of Julie. This three is a crowd that is gathering attention for good reason.

Listening back on their EP release, that unease to their music has carried over well into this record and creates a distorted sledge of sound that has many layers upon layers. The first track "Our Sacred Soil" has just that, with Julie delivering some eerie, almost chanting-like vocals that could pull you into possession for the song's entirety. The drums flow into the second track, clear vocals and great echoing tone take hold, and you get a sense of the attention that the vocals demand and hold you in a transfixed state. The drums are present throughout the entire song and are very well put together. "Small-Hearted & Blind" opens with slow grind and then comes at you with an up-tempo guitar and bass that creates a great low to the song as it comes back down in speed and you are pulled into the great depths, like slowly slipping into quicksand of doom.

With this album I find that the bass rings through it's chords, and has a lot of meatiness to it that is present in the next few tracks. "Nightshade Winds" leaves you with the impression that if it was possible to look into the soul of the song, you would turn to stone, but it calls and creates a craving that you must acknowledge. The opening to "Where Lies Our Heart", has almost a Celtic feel to the song as it brings to the forefront the questions of what makes us all who we are as humans. This song has great lyrics that are carried out with the vocal range and pitch that, along with the structure to the song as a whole, while unsettling, also seems to put you at ease.

For me, this is a solid release to follow up their EP. There seems to be a more mellow sound that is structured well with tempo changes and helps Benoît create a depth to the music. Julie's vocals are some of the best that I've heard in a while, and has a way of delivering each song with great range that seems effortless. I don't think that this will be the last time that you will hear about this band in the doom metal world.