By: Anders

Posted: Jan 2, 2006

The time has now come for the second album from the Norwegian band V:28, the second in a trilogy, where "NonAnthropogenic" was the first album, a trilogy running through 28 tracks, and track 11 to 19 are what they presents to us on this album.

The dark and gripping atmosphere is still what drives the compositions from V:28, right after the intro is done, the listener gets sucked into the universe of "SoulSaviour" and one stays put all the way through the album. At first the music seems more accessible on this album, compared to the first, it is easier to get into the songs and they sticks onto the mind longer. The melodies are more catchy and works really well on the listener and in their context of course. There are more mellow parts involved on this album, compared to the first, but that doesn't make the impact of the music weaker, it makes it seem more thought-through and well-weighed, and the final impact is in fact more lasting and impressive. There are many good leads involved in the built up of the atmosphere, cold and dark, twisted and eerie, like my fave lead on this album in the song 'As The Sky Opens', very atmospheric. There are also a bigger presence of keys and electronic effects, again a thing that makes the music seem more whole and adds a lot to the atmosphere, which is quite mystical at times.

A very strong album, containing a lot of good hooks, a gripping atmosphere, good musicianship and a lot of good ideas, which are getting carried well out. It is kinda sad to think about that the band initially planned to disband V:28, after the release of the third album. Though let's see, after the impact they have had with their 2 first albums, they’ll might reconsider, we can at least hope. This one is for a sure a good buy for fans of industrial death metal with a lot of atmosphere and a great impact, I am impressed, and can't wait to hear the next chapter.

Rating: 9/10

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