UNDERTOW

It doesn't matter how "proggy" Undertow is...what makes it so good is it's sheer poetic darkness. It may be one of the darkest albums I've ever heard. It's not any typical "I was bullied in high school and I'm so damn metal" type of album, no, this is real despair here.

Every song is full of hatred and lack of hope, painting pictures of no place to hide and no where to run. Beginning with denial and regret, moving on to the cycle of pain and torture, to addictions, to loss of faith, to insanity, to madness, to death, to the flood. Each instrument adds an important factor to the distortion of the music, from the deadly riffs to the Nazi percussion.

It's powerful and dark, but never comes out as weak and annoying, which many other albums that copied ended up doing. If you're into really, really dark stuff, check this one out, I can guarantee you will love it no matter what type of music you're normally into. The only reason it's not essential is because this isn't everyone's music. You can live a life and die without hearing it, but I'd still highly recommend it.