This EP from Italian Alternative Metal formation INSULA was hard to gauge. Both songs sound as if they are from two completely different-sounding bands.

The first song, "A Bright Red Scream", will certainly sound familiar to anyone who has ever been a fan of TOOL or A PERFECT CIRCLE. This is a great song written in that Alternative Metal style that almost seems vintage now (I want to point out that Undertow came out over 20 years ago). There is a riff in the bridge that's definitely a call back to song like "Stinkfist". I certainly wouldn't call this music outdated but I can think back to 15 years ago where Hard Rock and Heavy Metal revolved around bands that sounded similar to the way INSULA does today. But, again, the song is pretty great as a single. Which brings me to the other track on this EP.

"Unfulfilled", the EP's title track shifts the sound from the previous track completely on its head. You can hear it as soon as the hypnotic synthesizers come in. You will definitely notice that all of those clean-to-Hard Rock vocals from "A Bright Red Scream" are toned back a whole lot. The only vocals on this song are the growling screams that come in on the Sludge-covered breakdowns. Most of the lead vocalizing on this song is done by the synth. It is a complete change from the first song.

I really find it hard to hate an EP that has two solid songs. INSULA show a lot of promise although their focus on what future songs will sound like is yet to be determined.