I wasn't able to find out much information about either this band or the album from social media, but the lead single piqued my interest. They are a Progressive Metal band from Australia, and the album has eleven songs. "psalm of lament" is first, and it eases in slowly. The violin notes weep, and the title is brought to life. "individual renaissance" has that snarl of Progressive Metal, with a firmer riff, choppy guitars, and the violin notes fit in nicely. There is a parallel to the band NE OBLVISICARIS in that regard for sure, and their musicianship is fine. They shift the sound to and fro expertly, but never lose sight of the melody line that was first established. "born in prejudice" has a slower sound that may be a little more powerful from the heavy riff accents. It's dark, and they hop on the melody and ride it through the undulation of the ocean tide like an expert surfer.

The next song, "ardere" has two parts. The first starts even harder, lower, and more menacing than any of the other songs so far. They can start and stop on a dime, while the chugging rhythm moves like a well-oiled machine. Listen to the drums, for example. The second part is equally as compelling as the first, and that darkness settles in like a woven thread. It's like a scarab beetle trying to break through his shell, and no shell is able to contain his fury or need for blood. "dirge to tenuous essence" hears the sound slow again, to simple bass guitar notes, weeping violin, and a somber, melancholy feeling. It's the kind of sound you might hear as you drift off to sleep on a quiet night at home. For an instrumental album, they sure use everything they have available to them.

"distilled hatred" opens with more chaos, and it's like the band is trying to control the steering on a bus whose breaks have failed and it's full throttle ahead. Somehow, they manage to steer it away from oncoming traffic. The final song, "averted gaze," is another two-parter. The first part begins with a steady hand through some riff shifting. It isn't without melody however, which they use a bright spot among the heavy cadence. The violin is expertly used also…not too much, and just when they need it. The second part is the ending I was hoping for. It has a hasty pace, and at first they open the playing field wide before closing it again by carefully removing things, one at a time.

I believe this album was a solo project, but you wouldn't know it, because each instrument has its place in the grand scheme of the album, and equal attention is paid to the part each one plays. The violin is an excellent addition to the music, and as I mentioned, it isn't over done. Instrumental music has to work harder for the listener, because you don't have vocals or lyrics to guide you. This was an excellent album by a musician who knows how to compose music.