Michigan's Emotep have steadily been making a name for themselves over the past year or two, through a relentless string of local shows and on the strength of their previous demo, all of which is actually incorporated into this release. As such, this effort serves well as a comparison of the growth the band have underwent in recent times, with the new material showing off songs and ideas that materialize much larger in scope than their previous work. Somewhat comparable to the likes of You're Pretty with the sonic ambiance of earlier Taproot, the group juxtapose sternly focused female vocals overtop of swirling riff driven melodies to catch the listeners ear.

Band frontwoman Betty Barnes has definitely refined her chops, delivering piercing harmonies that sound sullen yet warm, while also injecting a sense of restrained calmness to the tracks to keep them continually flowing with a steady grace. The guitar work is also a bit more expansive this time around and utilizes a wealth of effects to drench the songs in a spiraling ambiance that is often left to build up, only to be violently shattered by forceful distorted riffs. In turn, the bass playing is fairly intricate and works closely with the guitar to create atmosphere, employing uplifting progressions and plucks that funnel off into straight forward low end assaults. The percussion however is one of the bands main elements and through various riotous snare hits, rolls and cymbal splashes, band drummer Kyle Trottier ensures the songs power through to completion with finesse and energy.

Overall, the new material contained here is a substantial improvement when compared to the bands past work, showing off a broader range of style and ability with engulfing breakdowns and unexpected twists and turns that keep the listener constantly on edge. Each member of the group have stepped up their contributions and as a result, the material retains far more depth and layers of sound than ever before. However, despite the obvious improvements, there are still a few factors which tend to keep the band from breaking out and hitting their peak, the first of which would probably be the somewhat monotonous range of the bands vocalist, Betty. Though she has an enchanting voice and a well honed delivery, she tends to stick to the same tonal range and progressions far too often, rarely injecting any dynamic energy or intensity, making the songs feel a bit stiff and rigidly paced. Another con against the band is the seemingly similar tempo of their songs, which can feel a bit too melancholic and relaxed, even at their most fieriest moments. As such, the tracks can eventually blur into each other and occasionally drone on, a quality which could easily be rectified with a bit more diversity and perhaps some broader experimentation implemented overall. In their current state, Emotep are definitely a band who stand out from the pack, taking their time to do something different from the herd and travel in new directions. Their skill and vision is also admirable and with a tad more embellishment in place here and there and a bit less personal restraint exercised, their songs should be able to unfold and fully blossom before the listeners ears. Hopefully, this is the path they will choose to travel in the future, because at present, they can still feel a bit too under developed to truly capitalize upon the music which they set out to create.