SULLEN, the Portuguese extreme progressive metallers are back after several years of relative dormancy with their sophomore record "Nodus Tollens - Act 1:Oblivion", seemingly creating anticipation for an unfinished story and a longing for more. They were created out of the ashes of a previous progressive metal outfit on Major Label Industries called OBLIQUE RAIN. That band released two albums - "October Dawn" to generally positive reviews in 2007 and "Isohyet" in 2009 which saw them grow and mature, garnering them even more good favor - before disbanding sometime in 2013. Guitarists Cesar Texeira and Andre Ribero along with drummer Marcelo Aires would reform under the SULLEN banner and be joined by Guilherme Lapa on bass, Joao Pereira on keyboards, and third guitarist Pedro Mendes. They released their debut album "Post Human" with members taking on additional roles such as Texeira on lead vocals and Aires taking on synths, sound design, and even backing vocals. Unfortunately Lapa parted ways with the band in October of 2018 and Ricardo Pinto was quickly brought in to fill the bass guitar slot and the band also announced new singer David Pais later that month.

Despite their member shakeup, the overall sound of the band seems consistent going into their sophomore album. SULLEN continue to wallow in the somber nature of their music - hence the choice of band name - while carving out new sonic textures on "Nodus Tollens - Act 1:Oblivion". They borrow the term "Nodus Tollens" - a neologism or newly coined word or expression - from American artist John Koenig that defines the feeling of insecurity that some people get when they find that their lives don't make sense anymore. The album seeks to articulate this paradigm shift, the unmaking of one's reality. This unease and turmoil is presented musically through time signatures shifts, elusive chord progressions and fierce vocals, guitars, drums synths and sound effects that can simultaneously excite a person or put them into a meditative trance. They present much more than a simple listening experience and try to open minds and hearts in an attempt to reach higher realms of existence and consciousness.

After the seemingly quiet departure of their original singer, SULLEN have largely kept their sound the same and at least vocally, don't seem to have skipped a beat. Their signature doubled clean singing - much like ALICE IN CHAINS and Joey Eppard of the band 3 frequently employs - combined with the rougher metalcore-like harsher style is extremely effective at setting as well as delivering the more brutally metal aspects of the band. Opener, "The Prodigal Son" is cornucopia of odd time shifts, heavy djent-y chug elements all with a progressive rock flavor that easily draws a listener in. "Skylines" then furthers that progression, featuring a solo that sounds very Daneil Gildenlow of PAIN OF SALVATION, from the distinctly otherworldly tone to the odd interval choices that seem to fit together perfectly. But these two were a bit of a departure for the band as they mainly sit in the more somber, chugging aesthetic, clearly pushing themselves out of their comfort zones and it was expertly delivered. The mid-album "Acheronta Movebo" is more typically SULLEN. It's a sensory immersive chug through atmospheric, droning vocals, relishing in one mood for a slow head-banging groove. Then "Memento" kicks, speeding things up with more trashy, yet still proggy roots, taking a lot of cues from PERIPHERY for mood and harsher singing. This album made me really sit up and appreciate the innovation in prog-metal as much as OPETH did in the early 2000s and I hope SULLEN continue to evolve but shouldn't be afraid of that somber, brooding mood they created on their debut "Post Human".