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This is the fourth release by this enigmatic Italian band. Their last album, Towards the Pillars, was an entirely ambient affair that I found rather lackluster, so I was not sure how much I should be looking forward to this one.

In opposition to their ambient album, this one presents a darker, uglier side to their sound. Earth II is less Cascadian-sounding than their debut, with a heavier, harsher vibe and a lot of very slow, almost doomy sections. The production is sharper, and it makes this sound much less fuzzy and moody, relying on the shading in the riffs to add depth to the sound. Parts of this album go on a bit long, dragging out more than they should, but when this band cranks it up they hit with tremendous force, ripping open spectacular torrents of riffs that build into oceans of sound. This is a development of the band's signature style, but while it is different, it is still really good. If you like sweeping, epic Black Metal with a ton of atmosphere and songs that are, like, eighteen minutes long, then you need this one.