After nearly eleven years of known silence, Progressive Death Metal band Will'o'Wisp return with their third studio album. For a band that performs 'religiously influenced' music it is a shame that the group does not make more use of the oriental/ middle eastern sound that greets listeners on the opening "Mrtyu." It is so well done and organic that is puts them on par with bands like Melechesh or Nile. However, Will'o'Wisp's music is mostly in the more jazzy Prog Metal style similar to groups like Cynic, hitting hard and fast with tracks like "Six Forms Of Existence" that come off in bursts of guitar and drumming and then smoothed out through Melodic Death Metal styled keyboards and mid paced snarling. Sometimes the group delves into a bit of a sci-fi sounding territory on the keyboards on a track like "Kosmo" to try and bring forth the ambiance of the first track, but it just doesn't have that oganic feeling that is as rich. The only other time they really do bring in the cultural touches to the music clearly is in the electronically infused "Bardo Thodol," but it almost sounds a little bit cheesy with the beat in the background on top of the other instruments.
One thing Will'o'Wisp makes innovative use of is their electronic influences. Aside from the rather generic "Bardo..." and the heaps of keyboard used on the other tracks, sometimes they hit it right. "Going Back..." opens up with some rather catchy beats the fall in nicely with the oriental touches but then the song shifts to the heavier Death Metal section that kind of breaks the continuity of the song. While it offers the band's strongest demonstration on both points of their music, it may leave fans wondering where to begin and where to end. "Sutratma-Buddhi" throws in some female vocals to vary things up, and they actually go along nicely with the whole Prog-jazz Death Metal bits. Overall, those who were expecting a new take on Nile or another culturally charged Death Metal band are going to be a bit disappointed, but for those who like electronically fused Prog Death Metal with touches of Cynic while not being too epic or overdone, then Will'o'Wisp will certainly impress listeners with their return and strong production to make sure the sound is crisp and clear.
