"Solace In Solitude" is the debut record by Johannesburg-based band SUNKEN STATE, a mishmash of several Extreme Metal influences, genres and sounds, taking a Melodic Death Metal frame and filling it with Prog Metal, Metalcore, Deathcore, Technical Death Metal and even some Post-Metal and Black Metal elements.

Opener "Beg For Mercy" is a clear showcase of this mixed influences, with its catchy riffing and great harsh vocal variety. The chorus of the track feels quite reminiscent of THE OCEAN COLLECTIVE, in huge part due to Dwayne Hees' anguished screams being quite reminiscent of those by Loïc Rossetti. The track surely introduces the album in great fashion. It has a bit of a proggy edge, even if it remains mostly into the more complex end of Melodeath territory. Its lengthy middle section carries a deep atmospheric Post-Metalish vibe, and builds into a massive finale.

"Swindler" follows. A banger, unsurprisingly a single as it has some of the catchiest songwriting on the album. The addition of synth work and a few production tricks (phasing mostly) give the song a peculiar, different feel. THE OCEAN comparisons remain, especially audible in the use of clean-ish vocals for the chorus. Around the 4-minute mark, all hell breaks loose, as brutal Death growling broke free in the breakdown. Peter Pistorius' drumming is a highlight, keeping the song cohesive and driven.

Beautiful acoustic fingerpicking, evoking Flamenco sounds, open "Burn Society". Aside from the lyrical content, the music surely feels rebellious and bellicose once the heaviness appear. A call for arms, to bring society down. The vocal layering is gorgeous, mixing deep, animalesque growls, high-pitched shrieks and desperate screaming. This track is a clear example Dwayne Hees is the clear MVP on "Solace In Solitude", backed by his amazing peers of course.

"Separation Has Begun" begins firing up in all cylinders with some of the most emotional and optimistic sounds of the record, before dissolving into raging madness. The clean sections almost carry a Pop Punk feel on the vocals. Still, things get nasty for an extended outro with some of the heaviest riffs and unintelligible growls. A track filled with contrast, shifting through moods with ease.

As heavy as the record is as a whole, it surely has a few detours here and there, keeping things interesting vocally and musically, like "Egyptian Pariah's" Psychedelic middle section -also a highlight for Dwayne Klingbiel's bass work, some truly nasty basslines and bass runs-, or the -core sounding "This Is The End" and its cartoonish vocals -think MR. BUNGLE. Meanwhile, "Interlude" is a necessary respite from the madness, at least on its first half, before delving into heavier sounds and some extremely sci-fi sounding synths.

"Enter The Gray" shows the clear IRON MAIDEN influence with an apt homage to "Number Of The Beast". An emotional and potent track. Mathew Swanepoel lays down the most tasteful and passionate soloing on the entire record. I even got massive THE DEAR HUNTER vibes on the harmonic vocalizations by the end, a beautiful way to cap off an already outstanding track.

Closing the album, "Chaos & Turmoil" and "Recover Yourself" feel like a one-two punch. "Chaos & Turmoil" evoke early BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME (mostly "Silent Circus"-era). Unadulterated mathy/proggish Deathcore in short song format. It is dense and brutal, with some abrupt breaks and noisy guitar work. "Recover Yourself" seems content mixing all that came before and packaging it nicely under 4 minutes. Everyone is giving their A-game for sure here, as it is a more than adequate closer.

Overall, "Solace In Solitude" is an outstanding debut record. Strong songwriting, skillful players and its vocal variety are the main fortes of the record, keeping things focused, cohesive and yet interesting. I am sure this band has many good things moving forward.