PSYCHONAUT is a psychedelic post-metal collective from Mechelen, Belgium. Their signature sound is heavily influenced by 70's bands like LED ZEPPELIN and PINK FLOYD, but also draws inspiration from more modern sources like TOOL and AMENRA. The new album has ten songs, and the title track is first. Gentle, somber keys open the song, combined with comforting vocals. Gradually, more sonority is added, and the melody line and steady keyboards are something you can easily connect with. "Endless Currents" enters with a heavier groove, and thick bass notes accompany the weight in the guitars. The vocals are smooth, and I get the sense of a churning sky…sometimes cloudy and other times darker. The harsh vocals are a surprise, and they really give the song a hardened, angled approach.

"You are the Sky…" is another winner. Smooth cleans and edged harsh vocals combine over a bed of thick bass guitar notes to provide a dark, mysterious sound. There are some subtle Progressive elements as well, but they blend in perfectly with the music. It cleverly segues into "…Everything Else is just the Weather," which present a lot of atmosphere to the album. The band is masterful at these transitions…they just go so smoothly. Lead guitar breaks pepper the song, which is rooted in the blues. It may just be me, but I get some KARNIVOOL type vibes here. The emotional crescendo at the end is amazing. "And You Came with Searing Light" is another melodic offering that has just the proper amount of weight. The heavier passages are punishing and done with steady hands, yet the melody continues to shine like a beacon through the darkness.

"Origins" begins with atmosphere and tension, and I picture an endless sky with all sorts of possibilities. The diversity and balance on the album is really quite striking, and I am fully engaged. The lead breaks are on point as well, and the band expresses some of their outstanding musicianship here. "All in Time" tones the album back down a bit with simple melodies that are so damn easy to connect with. It's a shadowy offering, steeped in mystery, and the vocal harmonies are excellent. Rage breaks the wall, and then retreats again. "Stargazer" is more straightforward. It has plenty of weight, but is counterbalanced once again with very pleasing melodies. At times, it is hidden in the shadows, but at others, it is right in the forefront of the stage.

"All Was Quiet" is a shorter song that brings some of the emotions back down to calm once again. The dynamism of this album is nothing short of breathtaking at times. "Endless Erosion" is the final song, and it's a smooth, bluesy offering. Once again, the weight of the song is counterbalanced with glorious melodies, and each is as vital as the other to keeping the album both grounded at times and soaring at others. There is so much texture to the song that you can read it like braille with your fingers. Through ten songs, it's obvious that this album is a contender for AOTY.

This album is a testament to the dual nature of Progressive Metal, where weight and wonder coexist in perfect balance. The tone of the record shifts constantly. Melodies move like moods, shadowed and reflective one moment, luminous and soaring the next. It's an album of contrasts…brutal, mechanical grooves give way to passages of near-celestial beauty. This is music that weighs on the listener yet uplifts them. It's heavy not just in tone, but in meaning…the kind of heaviness that stays with you long after the final note fades, reminding you that beauty and burden often share the same space.