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Melancholic, relaxing, depressing, melodic, aggressive... All adjectives that can be used to describe this latest album from Chicago doomsters Novembers Doom. This album catches my attention more than its excellent predecessor, "The Knowing", which says a lot. The album kicks off on a fast and aggressive song and there you begin a journey that'll make you go through just about every emotion (OK, maybe not happiness - this is doom after all :)). From heavy, aggressive guitars with death-like but still understandable growls, to light acoustic passages with clean, "sad" vocals, you'll also be treated with mid-paced material and occasional female vocals (very well done soul-reaching vocals). I guess the overall release could be summed up as "beautiful music" (as un-metal as this may sound - hehe), I've rarely run into an album that is so effective at bringing out so many types of emotions.

The music is helped by a very good production which could hardly be better. Having heard a few of their previous albums, I can say the band have outdone themselves as musicians and songwriters, just one more proof that a band can evolve without resorting to gimmicks or going commercial. Being far from a doom metal expert, I won't venture into making any comparisons with other doom bands, although I have seen My Dying Bride mentioned here and there - but that's just hearsay. ;) This album is definitely one of the top releases so far in 2002. Highly recommended - but I didn't need to say that, did I? :)