This is Inquisitor, who hail from Lithuania's capital city, Vilnius. After two demos, they have released 'The Quantum Theory of Id', their debut album. Being an avant-garde black metal band, they can do almost anything they want to. Avant-garde bands usually sink into a swamp of confusion, simply by cramming way too many things and styles into one, becoming impossibleto get into. So, how do Inquisitor manage in this game?

First of all, I see Inquisitor as an avant-garde dark metal band, who incorporate black metal influences among other things. Norway's mighty Emperor is one clear black metal influence for Inquisitor, another being Arcturus. And both band's avant-garde scapes, too, can be heard at least partly, in Inquisitor's music. This is not a carbon copy of either, not even close, mind you. The last part of 'I Pricipia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis' sounds like mathcore. Some parts of piano playing mixed with metal here reminds me of Psypheria's fine 'Embrace the Mutation' (2002). There's also a classical piano part to be heard. Another non-metal element are prog-ish bits here and there. I like rhythmic turns this is filled with, so no droning should be expected, and the same goes with how music is building and morphing. The vocals are quite monotone, if suitable, agonized growling, despite five different characters the story features.

Each of the long songs have three parts in them, and all these could have been separate songs in my opinion. However, the album doesn't feel long at all, nor do individual songs. The music flows on pretty nicely for a big part. Most of the turns take listener to another interesting and good place. Some don't, and that mathcore part is one of things I dislike. Well, every traveller has one's own mind how they take and feel this. This album needs some kind of will to jump on this journey, but on the other hand, it also works as backing music when doing something that needs brains. I find this easy to like, it simply grasps me on its wings.

The production work is both good and not so good. The guitars do sound a tad too lame, muffled. However, they give space to fantastic real-sounding piano. The drums are thundering, but the bass a bit silent in the mix. This is the first audio release from Lithuanian fanzine Forgotten Path. It is packed in a good-looking digipak, featuring all the lyrics, which are necessary for deciphering the story of the album. The story is something like seeking reality in what is called as life and all chaos outside and inside of it. And beyond... Interesting stuff, if you're at all interested by such things. Plus, there's an online version with animated booklet! Good work.

I just find this album a nice trip to, well, somewhere. Inquisitor have managed to do quite a characteristic album here. If you like avant-garde moments, then you should give this one a try.

Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/11/2011 22:08