AUSTARAS

"Deserter" has a mellow intro but it kicks into gear before 1 1/2 minutes with riffs. Vocals follow and I feel they are at their worse on this opening track, so not a great way to start the album in my opinion. He pretty much speaks the lyrics. We get a calm after 4 1/2 minutes with faint voices and picked guitar. The guitar solos tastefully before it kicks back in. "Thrones" sounds good when the guitar starts to solo before a minute in a laid back manner. The vocals join in along with riffs but again the vocals seem tired. It's better after 3 minutes as it all becomes more passionate. A calm after 5 minutes but it kicks back in quickly. I like the guitar before 6 12 minutes as the drums pound. "Refractions" is a short instrumental of relaxed guitar melodies then a second guitar arrives after 1 1/2 minutes.

"Threshold" has a nice full sound to start as the vocals join in. Double bass drumming comes and goes. Orchestral sounds take over 4 minutes in but not for long and then it turns heavy. "Ossify" has this slowly picked guitar that makes me sad as percussion and violin join in. "Fractures" is fairly heavy with down-tuned guitars and more. It does settle back as the vocals arrive before a minute before becoming more powerful after 1 1/2 minutes as the vocals continue. A calm after 5 minutes but again not for long. I like when we get another calm before 7 1/2 minutes. When it kicks back in the vocals seem to shout the words. "Reflections" is a short piece with vocal melodies and strummed guitar. "Seaworthy" opens with guitar as the bass and drums join in. This is laid back but then it starts to build before 4 minutes as riffs follow. A relaxed section takes over around 6 minutes with picked guitar and some atmosphere to the end.

Well worth checking out if your into this style of music, it just doesn't click with me though unfortunately.