Sometimes I like to have a little fun with trying to fit bands into a genre (or in some cases, fit genres onto a band); not at all out of a vindictive habit or decisive thought process. Sometimes I'll come across a band, like KAMELOT or AEONS CONFER, where I cannot put my finger on anything. Such is the case with Italians SHORES OF NULL, where trying to combine the words Death / Black / Doom / Progressive / Melodic becomes churlish and tiresome. But by all means, damn well combine the musical styles. Because that has what has happened on "Quiescence".

The lengthy and awe-inspiring instrumental track, and "Kings of Null", seems to go hand-in-hand (riff-in-riff?). It begins with a vibe most evocative of AMORPHIS; a wistful-yet-powerful cascade of riffs aided by intermittent growls. Even the clean vocals are similar; a deep, powerful voice that is able to reach some higher registers that carries an air of melancholy. "Night Will Come" comes with beautifully-vocalized lyrics brandished on the back of pounding arrangements, which are broken up with epic; Folky flourishes with harsh vocals breaking the permafrost. The songwriting effort put into this track is simply pure excellence.

"The Heap of Meaning" is a multi-layered, multi-genre, multi-everything soundscape that traverses most known reaches of sound, and intertwines it with the metaphysical. The band's music takes a truly artful turn, and the blending of elements is seamless and overflowing. "Eudaemonia" fills the important and risky position as the album's final track... But I don't believe the band could have made a better choice. It was tailored, note-by-note, to fit the role of gripping you with melodic, rhythmic, soulful tendrils and whisking you away with it during the fade-out. Here, the Doom influences are much more present, and yet in parts, the track feels exceptionally energetic.

We may have 9 more months to go, but I am confident that "Quiescence" will stand as a contender for being one of the best albums of 2014.