INSIDE YOU

Here is the second release from the Istra-based band INSIDE YOU. Well, their sound has changed since the small debut record "Lost in the Faith" — it has become softer yet at the same time more saturated. Stylistically, they remain difficult to pigeonhole. The gothic doom label is far too crude and terminologically inaccurate. Let's put it this way: there is something of 1990s CREMATORY here, yet to a much lesser degree than on the first album. The current release, in terms of sound and atmosphere, is more comparable to bands like DRACONIAN. Atmospheric keyboards, crisp and steady riffs, deep but non-aggressive growling. Regarding the keyboards, one criticism could be made: it might be worth diversifying them in terms of timbre, as the keyboard parts sound too uniform for the most part. The use of female vocals alongside the main voice is something that has long become tiresome, and honestly, such things are perceived with a degree of apprehension — it seems like everything that could be said in the beauty-and-the-beast style has already been said. However, the vocals, or more precisely the choir, raise no complaints, and the tracks featuring the choir turned out very well compositionally. One more point: for some reason, little attention is paid to guitar solos, while the ones that are present demonstrate that they suit the music exceedingly well. In terms of recording quality, mixing, and mastering, there is nothing to fault — everything is in excellent balance. In addition to the 10 tracks, the disc also includes a music video for "A Scream Of The Broken Dream" — it's quite well done, with the sole caveat that given the fairly static storyline, it might have been worth shortening the song somewhat for the video. Overall, a very worthy release.