SCAPES is an Atmospheric Metal band based out of Finland. As far as I can tell, "One, Unseen, One" is their debut album on an independent Finnish record label, and contains seven tracks. "Caring is Gone" leads off the album, with a dark and ethereal sound. Instrumentation is kept fairly minimal and the mid-range vocals are hushed lamentations, speaking of loss. The fitting guitar solo notes sound like tears dropping onto the floor. "Unseen Infinite" is driven by a guitar riff in triplets at times and vocal harmonies in the chorus. Alternating acoustic passages lengthen the atmosphere and extend the emotional sentiment. "A Song Of The Mountain" has a low, chanting quality to it, sounding like it belongs to the folklore of the Dwarf people in "The Lord Of The Rings." The acoustic guitars strum in unison and there is additional background instrumentation that gives the song an air of mystery and suspense. It's not until you hear "The Melancholy Cycle" when you catch the first undoubtedly Metal sounding track. Though the vocals are done in about the same manner, the thunder of the electric guitar is much more pronounced. "Devil May Dare" is also a bit harder and perhaps more demonstrative, and I think the alternating acoustic passages are very well done in this track. Though it moves along slowly, it really comes to life when they turn it loose. "Every Waking Dawn" returns to a peaceful sound but with a despondent bliss that permeates throughout. I like the commitment to the one main melody here, because any more and the track would lose its significant message. Closing the album is the song "Doomscapes." At seven minutes, it is the longest song on the album. Guitar and bass have an increased presence and the vocal crescendos give it a certain punch that emphasizes the various emotional passages that occur throughout the song. The harsh vocals at the end underscore this.

Overall, this is a first good effort from the band and the areas that they chart are all their own. It is charged, emotional, doomy and introspective music that is more about exploring the journey than arriving at a set point in time.<