Relicon's second demo follows the same dark, yet poppy Katatonia-esque (well not a carbon copy, but that's the best I can do) style as the last year's debut 'The Darkness Project'. Relicon has taken a few steps higher almost on very field. Still, some similar problems remain, that were already noticeable on the debut.

Three songs and an instrumental introduction is on the menu this time. It sounds like everything is turned up a level or two. This is more metal now, as there's more distortion on guitar and heavier riffing and better leads. No solos, though. Some guitars sound thin, metallic and "sampled" is the only way I can picture them. Volume is louder now, which gives much needed punch the debut was lacking of. However, drumming is constructed with a machine and I do not like it, it sounds a bit lame and there's no variation what a human drummer can bring in. Or better programming. On the other hand, there's some detail on other programming or effects, whatever, giving this more finished feel in general. The songs are better now, more varying from melancholic stuff (very Finnish feel of isolation in them), to the heavier title song. Heavier in this context, nothing like death metal or something like that. Everything's very catchy, yet not overtly poppy.

In some songs, vocals are duetted by male and female singers. And this is good, since male vocals are very thin and powerless, but fit with fragile feels going on in these songs (death of love and such). Female vocals aren't too angelic what are heard a lot nowadays. They remind me of Hungarian Without Face's debut album's ('Deep Inside' from 2000) female vocals. Cover art is cool and professionally printed. Sadly there's no lyrics, but on the website.

In all, this sounds more "ready" when compared to the debut, there's clearly more man-hours put into this. Still, some worse elements (drums, male vocals) catch my ears too well, since there's real potential here. Well done and keep up that progress.

Reviewed by Lane
12/11/2003 19:33