From their EPK, “Despite The Rise Of The Sun,” the second full-length release from this five-piece Progressive Melodic Death metal band is tangible proof of hard work coming to fruition. This album features songs that the band not only always wanted to write and record, but also hear, as listeners and fans of music themselves. Before the lockdown, the band was already working on songs that would become the bulk of the album; during the lockdown, they kept working on something that had become long-awaited by fans, fueled by the frustrations and difficulties brought on by the pandemic; post-lockdown, coming off a successful 3-week tour in the northeast, and an exciting new partnership with Black Lion Records, they are finally ready to bring their vision to life.” The album has nine songs.

“Father from the Flame” is first. It starts off heavy and aggressive, with deep, guttural harsh vocals followed at time with higher screams. Clean vocals help to temper the madness a bit, but this is a guns-a-blazing sound. “Avarice” begins with clean, solemn tones, and a chance to catch your breath. But the drums get to rolling and a thicker sound shadows the forefront. “Gates” marks the third song in a row with a quick and intense sound, unfettered without much fluff. As is often common in the genre, the band is better at the “death” side rather than the “melodic” side.

“On the Eve of Silence” is another song that opens with some promise of melody that is quickly dashed by the intense death metal. It waxes and wanes a couple of times, but all that I can remember is the aggressiveness. “Sea of Trees” is a little slower, and has a little more melody, but again, the main focus is on the harsher side of the genre. “Bane and Benumbed” is yet another song that stays in the lane. The rolling drums are one of the keys to the sound. Even backing off them a bit would help to round out the album and bring more diversity. This is my number one issue with the album. “Unfinished Tapestry” is another overly intense song. I love Metal, but too many of these songs without some temperance can really weigh an album down. One of the best parts about the genre is that more clean tones would help the harsher ones stand out more.

“The Cerebral Labyrinth” closes the album, and if you guessed another aggressive song, you would be right. Let’s start the summary with the better parts of the album. The band is clearly talented, and play together in tightly woven passages that would be impossible to even squeeze a dime through. The harsh vocalist also has some range and diversity. But the album is too unilateral for me. I understand that most fans of the genre are indiscriminate, but as a reviewer, it is my job to look out for albums that elevate the genre.