Competently constructing a dreamy soundscape of variable textures, tempos and emotions, and then packaging them all together as intricately layered prog-rock, The Mayan Factor's "In Lake 'Ch" is a true indie gem. Catering to the darker senses of progressive melancholy ala Tool and dredg, while also harboring a distinct modern rock flair, this MD based outfit have a seemingly limitless appeal to their sound. As such their music is more than capable of enlisting a variety of different listeners within their fan base, especially those who would not often stand side by side.

Moody and brooding without sounding depressed, the bands music is inherently solid footed thanks to its weighty rhythm section. Balancing this bass heavy performance with wispy acoustic guitar passages and sure-footed drumming, not to mention some haunting extra instrumental additions, the songs tumble and engulf themselves in their own complexity, yet rarely leave the listener confused. This musical confidence exuded makes the introspective vocal performance all the more impactful, and while an underlying sense of aggression is continually present, the band remain positive and for the most part avoid any showings of testosterone laced machismo.

However, while the disc starts off in earnest and has its roots fully drenched in expansive rock elements, around halfway through the band oddly begin to add in some elements of rap-rock, which ultimately seem out of place and disjointed. Although the only traces of the infamous genre generally surface in the form of a rap-like vocal deliveries, the group still morph into some weird hybrid of Linkin Park/Limp Bizkit meets dredg, and the album could have done entirely without this odd concoction. Aside from those aforementioned forays into the unexpected however, this quintet remain quite impressive and show boundless potential for future offerings if they can manage to factor out the current loose ends.