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Condition Black is the second full-length from Floridian Progressive/Power Metal band Skyliner. I was impressed with the debut Outsiders from 2014 so I was pumped when this one showed up in my review queue. What I like about Condition Black is how Skyliner push the envelope of Progressive/Power Metal a bit. The band doesn't beat you over the head with their musical abilities, they just write songs that are a little more complex than your average Power Metal band and this helps them avoid sounding like every other band on the Limb roster. Condition Black is a dark album with somber lyrics, minor keys, Death vocals and other elements that chase away all the flowers and unicorns. Unfortunately, the flowers and unicorns took the catchy choruses and riffs with them so after Condition Black ends I don't remember much about it, other than the gloomy mood. There's a couple of instrumental interludes ("Interlude I: The Firmament" and "Interlude II: The Dance of Bliss") that remind me of something Cynic would do. In other words, pointless noodling.

I applaud Skyliner for challenging themselves and the listeners but the formula needs work as Condition Black doesn't flow very well and the songs are lacking in hooks. Points for not sounding like every other band.