Reviewed by Greg Sammons

Once again Bombworks Records have gleaned a gem from the European hard music scene. Luminaria were hidden away in the Polish underground scene for years until this American label picked them up, my guess is that fellow Poles and labelmates Illuminandi may have had a hand in one finding the other. Coming from East Europe, you can expect gorgeously gothic musical landscapes, punctuated by haunting and extreme vocals with crunching metal guitars. Fans of Saviour Machine will relish this release. More mainstream bands like Moonspell or Virgin Black also compare closely to the ethereal soundscapes offered here. On my first listen I was totally won over. My guess as to why would be that each song gently eases you in and never feels overly heavy, so you can just sit back and take it all in without being bombarded right from the word go. The use of keys is not unique but it certainly adds a whole lot to the atmosphere, in fact the quality of musicianship all round and the attention to detail is remarkable. The emotion that oozes out of this album is impressive while the lyrics are consistently thought provoking.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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