OK one note before we start... .I am not much of a fan of death metal vocals at all, nor do I believe death metal is a separate genre like everyone thinks. I think it’s the same exact metal with a guy (or god forbid) a girl growling like a bear choking on a dick. But at times it works. It worked for Crematory, though (1). Their keyboard work at knack for atmosphere kept most of it together, (2). They were far better when they had the non-death metal singer. And bands who cross this and gothic almost always end up on some super cheesy level, ala Cradle of Filth. This one tends to blend those two together nicely at times but stumbles on some ends, like the opening track. Psuedo gothic Tubular bells with a romping corny metal tune and death vocals!?!? It’s fucking horrible! But on the second track it begins to pick up and get me moving, with it’s nice mix of piano cascades and gothic metal guitars. The CD in general stays along those lines, drifting off in death metal vocals here and there. Overall, it’d be better to just sing normal and not overpower the atmosphere with trying to be brutal. But not bad at all though at the same time. It’s keyboard work is masterful to say the least, and the female vocals are superb. Only problem I had with this was the opening track Rule of music here: gothic bells+death metal vocals=shit. Other than that, I’d recommend it. PS, the girl on the front cover is stunning beyond words, that is the kind of beauty that inspires great poets! Rating:8 Also recommended are My Dying Bride and Anathema, the two masters of gothic metal alongside Neurosis. Also if you get to see them, see Paradise Lost on tour now. Think of a heavy more melodic Mission UK with PL’s newer stuff.