So they say metal heads share a love of darkness and impending hell. And so, while many acts do justice to this statement, some also prove it to be terribly wrong. When luminescence meets technical, innovation begins. With a silky, clear guitar tone underpinned by a foundation of rapid, active and powerful, KARLAHAN evoke an elegant, bourgeois metal. The type to be filled with tremendous technicality, overflowed with ideas and nuances. The virtuosos' sextet from Barcelona play by the label of Progressive Symphonic Death Metal, but there is one thing to be remembered most about their music: the glory, power and vulnerability expressed throughout ''Exile'', the bands first LP, all together create the great paradox that lies within this luminous piece of artistry... And there you go, blinded by meticulously played partitions and perfectly balanced contrasts.

Calm, classical arrangements could best sum up this record. Peaceful, uplifting and symphonic passages lead to glorious, complex components - always drawing a contrast between strong and heroic, to light and beautiful. Sometimes almost joyful with its jerky rhythms and clean chants, many of these subtleties contribute to the intriguing form ''Exile'' has. From nuances in the volume and accents to the technique (aggressive playing, soft vocals...), the universe gravitating around the record is firmly built. If the first three songs come off as pure and heavenly for their use of warm acoustics and tender melodies, some effects like the double kick drum pounding off or the abrupt changes of tempo give a little harsher twist. Accompanied by low growls, the occasional use of staccato shines with originality through the usual wailing tremolos and, give the opportunity to tunes like ''Architecture of Life'' or ''Involution Part II'' to express the talent, efforts and daring the group has put into their work. Not only with a very pronounced progressive tone (sinking slowly into the 70s classical sound), the presence of solid, elaborated structures merged with flown away bridges contribute into creating the said genre. Highly and meticulously played, you'll feel KARLAHAN really are designing their own unique style. By innovation and guts, they'll even switch from paradisiac to jerky and thrashy within a couple minutes.

''By Smoke Diffused'' marks a change in the record, as it opens with rapid and aggressive raging instruments. With a slight touch of groovy and, then again, glorious elements, the track announces a new chapter: the heavy, closer-to-death-metal kind. Through harder breakdowns and tragic scales, the album varies in an unattended way, but quickly shifts back to elegant. There surely is a heaviness exuding from KARLAHAN's music, but with such fine arrangements and elaborated ideas, ''Exile'' becomes uplifting and softer, masking the impression of abrasive. Yes, the flayed growls can serve a harsh purpose, but the mind-blowing technicality and gorgeous melodies supporting the songs win.

Hailing since 2006, the band still fails to gather huge crowds to this day, but sure give the underground scene a good name. With a mixture of masculine, clean vocals (alternating pitches, going from manly to feminine sounding) and delightful choirs, the evolution in KARLAHAN's music is crystal clear.

By unfurling skills and garnished structures, the band may fall a tad too much into cerebral music, leaning on the cold, mathematical and technical side. While there sure is light and heavenly feelings added to the record, the groove from the soul overall lacks from the sextet's new record. This said, the breakdowns (and rare death moments) still may give you a grand envy to head bang up and down, with your whole body, but it is the intriguing, animated prog sections that will grip you and hook you... You know, sometimes the masters lie in the underground scene, kids. Buy some records and encourage these filled-with-potential-bands!<