ACT I: THE LAKE SOUTH, THE RIVER NORTH

"Battesimo Del Fuoco" is actually a very good way to start the album. It's a voice only song with multiple voices interluding one each other. Then we have a second short song which is catchy and symphonic. Together with the first one makes a perfect intro.

The first things that strikes you after this introductory part is the way the third song is starting in a very aggressive way, similar to The Mars Volta especially when we talk about the rhythmic section but also the voice. The melodic line is easy to remember and this is probably one of their finest songs. Definitely the highlight on this rather short album(under 40 minutes) .

After this unexpected introduction the things get settled with "The Inquiry of Ms. Terri". The song is simply continuing the story behind this conceptual album. The bass line from the end is absolutely amazing and the disruptive and strange sound from the end are remembering again about The Mars Volta strange sound trips.

If the approach would have continued in the same manner I would have easily given 5 stars. But somehow the inspiration and originality were lost. Don't get me wrong, the remaining songs are also good. But there is a visible difference in comparison with the first part. This makes it a bit inconsistent.

There is a kind of energetic approach when I'm thinking about this first release from The Dear Hunter and from time to time there are some kind of musical explosions manifesting a kind of accumulated frustration and misunderstood. I belive the guys managed to transmit in a fantastic manner their intention about the story behind. The music makes the transmitted feelings almost organic.