Hailing from London, the monster hybrid of Technical Metal and Ambient, Bilbao Syndrome, are ready to unleash their music upon the world. To first hear this supposedly simple album is like being re-introduced to Meshuggah for the first time- it will make one's head explode. However, Bilbao are not as chaotic as Meshuggah on the guitar front as they fuse more jazzy dream moments within their music through the use of plenty of bass and synth, such as on "IV." Of course, they don't keep the flow of their music as continuous either, often switching between soft and jarring moments that sometimes don't even seem to make sense, such as the following lead in on "V" of sharp, chugging guitar with barking vocals distorted and difficult to hear. Tracks like these will probably turn listeners away unfortunately. One of the more solid tracks, "II," showcases a much better display of what Bilbao is capable as far as Technical Metal and also shows their talent for making the wacky sound good. While at some parts the music feels like it is stuck in a loop, the vocals take a creative turn from the usual bellowing and snarling to a cleaner high pitched singing. While it doesn't mix with the faster parts too well, it is still a creative touch, especially during the spoken word parts. There is even a bit of piano involved on the final "VI" which is the album's slowest and darkest track; a completel 180 from what listeners will have heard so far. The slow, churning guitar will feel like there is a bit of Paradise Lost influence there with its buzzing tone and throaty, yet emotional bellowing vocals, once again expanding Bilbao's arsenal of sub-genres within their music. Overall, at first fans probably aren't going to be sure what to make of the music here, but once it sinks in they'll appreciate the diversity and unconventional approach to Metal that is always sorely needed in times of monotony.
