The latest album from Swedish doom rockers , their first studio effort since 2006, is as moody and beautiful as their other latter-day work. The group's career can be marked in two stages based on the condition of singer 's vocal cords -- basically, after the band's first two albums, he developed health problems that prevented him from performing harsh death growls, and ever since the band has moved in an increasingly melodic direction, even covering songs by and . It's unsurprising to learn that 's helped out by performing the harsh vocals on album and EP in 1996 and 1997, since songs could be outtakes from that band's or . Other tracks like the hilariously titled (a song this slow and lush would only inspire soldiers to lie down for a nap), and are slightly more unique with their use of programmed rhythms and trip-hop keyboards beneath and behind the crunching guitars. Overall, this is a very beautiful and reflective album, though at this point are only notionally a metal band, much more focused on moody (as in ) beauty than vulgar displays of power. ~ Phil Freeman