Science fiction is a great genre to work under for any kind of artist because it allows you to play with all sorts of strange and colorful ideas. Some of Metal's most exciting bands from VOIVOD to MORBID ANGEL have successfully mined such sources of the fantastic within their music, but the newest release from London-based trio SPECTRAL DARKWAVE proves that this is no easy task.

Formed in 2012, SPECTRAL DARKWAVE is a band of many hats, using a wide range of influences (including luminaries such as OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, and KATATONIA) in an attempt to create an all-encompassing musical experience. In addition to the fantastical subject matter covered, the band fuse biting Death Metal riffs and vocals with symphonic and other elements, making for a very diverse Metal stew. The results, however, aren't always as satisfying as the individual ingredients. "Retake Mars!" is a decent track to more or less "officially" kick off the album, but the atmospheric elements detract from the gritty Deathcore stomp of the chorus; the right elements are there, but it ultimately comes off as flat and underwhelming. Indeed, this is very much a problem throughout the album, as the band seems to cast their net too wide in trying to cover their bases. "The Occident" is a solid offering that doesn't stray from its air of swirling mystery and strangeness, and the challenging "Under Ebon Lash" has its moments, but the sometimes-overbearing synths and a lack of consistent direction from song-to-song keeps the album from gaining traction. Likewise, the brief, piano-accompanied break during the middle part of "Compound Vengeance" isn't enough to break up the monotony, sounding more obligatory than a product of real inspiration.

There are a lot of good ideas on "Last First Contact", and the band certainly know how to play their instruments, but it feels like the band hasn't really settled on a clear style. They basically do everything decently, which is fine, but it's not very exciting, and repeat listens underscore this. SPECTRAL DARKWAVE is a talented group with (what appears to be) good taste in Metal, but their devotion to stylistic variance keeps this album from being anything other than O.K.<