Portugal's has quickly evolved into one of the major players in the European goth-metal scene, and their fourth album, , finds them pushing the boundaries of metal into strange and exciting new directions. Led by vocalist 's breathy baritone, the group could be likened to a European but with a greater talent for genre-bending experimentation. Following the basic blueprint set by 's hugely influential album, marries violent, down-tuned guitar riffs, eerie synthesizer passages, and esoteric lyrical themes (part science fiction, part anti-Christianity). And though it's sheer breadth doesn't allow for as cohesive a picture as previous efforts, the album features a number of exceptional tracks. Chief among these are with its incredibly haunting melodies, and the enigmatically titled a mishmash of extremes that may just qualify as the first ever death metal waltz. Other compelling moments include the unrelenting power of the near-pop strains of and the straightforward industrial bludgeoning of A challenging but mostly rewarding sonic experience. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia