TULPA were formed in 2016 by Alessandro Coletta (vocals, guitar), Andrea Artusi (bass,  backing vocals) and Kyoo Nam “Asher” Rossi (drums). After the first local show in 2017,  Matteo Cordani joined the band as lead guitarist. Soon afterwards, TULPA released their  EP “Fear of Fades” as an independent release, and the new four-member line-up began  live activities. For this project, they present their melodic Black Metal, which is dedicated to the spiritual concept of saṃsāra, but has its own path.

The album has nine songs, and “Scatter My Ashes” is first; a short mood-setter, leading to “Healing.” There are some nice melodic moments under the surface of thick, depressive Black Metal, as well as some Thrash elements in the riff and drums. The title track has a slower and more somber sound at first, that transitions to a hastier sound, with a lot of power fueling the song. The mix of clean and distorted guitars keeps the listener engaged. “No One Wins” has some Punk elements mixed in, as well as some Hardcore in the vocals. So far, the band is experimenting with other styles but still keeping their Black Metal roots.

“Syskäathr” has another mixture of styles, and the various riffs are done with careful consideration. Listen to how they morph and shift, first as Thrash Metal riffs, then as Black Metal riffs. “Zerotonin” has deeply depressive tones at first, and with each note, another nail sinks in your coffin. The emotional impact is strong, and you can feel the band laboring. “Buried In a Hourglass” has a hasty power to it, and one thing that the album is very good at is balancing emotions. At times, it is anger, while other times, a deep depression.

“…In the Ahr” closes the album, and the opening tones are ominous…a warning if you will, while a steady stream of water trickles in the background. What lies out there? Overall, this was an excellent album, and I love the crossover of styles, as well as the bevy of different emotions the album ran through. Rage, hate, despair, and hopelessness are just a few. They are all presented with a sense of confidence from the band as well.