From Bandcamp, “RIOGHAN is a fresh breeze to the progressive metal scene from Finland. The band, founded in 2019, consists of singer Rioghan Darcy, guitarist Teemu Liekkala, guitarist Tero Luukkonen, bassist Antti Varjanne and drummer Valtteri Revonkorpi. Rooted deeply in both gothic and progressive metal scenes, they sure should bring something interesting on the table.” The album has ten songs, and “Dreams” is first, and that opening riff is downright bossy. They heaviness of it is tempered so nicely with backing keyboards and the emotive clean vocals of Rioghan. If that massive groove in the riff doesn’t grab you, nothing will.

“Hands” is another song that features heavy, almost Djent rhythms from the guitar and bass, but lighter and more expressive vocals at the top end. The harsh vocals that follow in the chorus are as intense livid as anything I have heard so far this year. “Skin” has much more tender tones. The backbone of the song is stern from electronica, but the band lets the song breathe, and the chorus is firm, but oh so melodic. “Edge” combines modern elements of keyboards with brutal riffs and screaming vocals that speak of blood, and massacre. Yet again in the chorus comes wonderfully harmonized clean vocals. Like a seemingly friendly snake, this song can turn on you without warning, “Distance” has much smoother edges, and some might even call it sultry. It is also dark, and heightens your “sixth sense” that something is out there.

“Motion” has that feeling of eternal grey skies with rain, the kind that just make you feel melancholy. The chorus is charged with heavier elements and angry, harsh vocals at times, but it still makes me feel sad. “Here” is even more mellow, and more beautiful, allowing the emotions to sink deep. They come pouring out in the chorus, like a child endlessly crying. If this song doesn’t move you, you might want to check your pulse to make sure you are still breathing. “Grief” closes the album, and it’s a fitting end to a colorful journey through a lot of different feelings. This one in particular affects people very differently. Some lash out in anger, others retreat. Here, it sounds to me like she is preferring to remember the nostalgia she felt in the past. Piano and clean vocals pack about as much emotion as they possibly could.

The album effortlessly blends countless elements into a seamless, emotional experience. It thrives on contrast, where aggression and serenity, despair and hope, melody and dissonance all coexist without ever feeling forced. Few records manage to capture such an immense range of sonic textures and emotional landscapes without losing their cohesion, but this does so with effortless grace. It is a carefully crafted, beautifully chaotic masterpiece that demands to be felt as much as it is heard.