The members of TIF (original Spiral Architect session singer Leif J. Knashaug, former Spiral Architect guitarist Kaj Gornitzka, ex-Lunaris bassist Erik Aakland, and the Extol and The Crest crediteddrummer David Husvik) started their collaboration back in 2000, but they deliberately held back the usual recording of demos and such, in favor for continued rehearsals and refining of their tunes. From the beginning the band's mission was to create a hybrid of Jazz/ Fusion with Technical Metal, allowing each member's preference to come through in the music they play together. Not untill they had an album's length of material behind which each member could stand proudly, did they actually record that material in the Summer of last year, ensuring a deal with Sensory (with whom Spiral Architect had already worked) in November. For the final mix, both the label and band agreed upon noted producer Neil Kernon, as he would be completely in tune with what the band stands for musically (having already worked with the likes of Spiral Architect, Nevermore, Queensrÿche, Cannibal Corpse, and others).

Now finally (well, actually since Sept. 19 th) the album's there, and it's quite a whopper for   those listeners who don't take the music they listen to for granted. Indeed, this is not only music to be enjoyed, but also to be analyzed in steps. For the most part, the pace is quite racey, but there's a few exceptions when the musicians go a bit slower, and that's when a Black Sabbath remeniscence surges upwards...especially with that high pitch of the lead singer. Lead singer indeed, because he doés get occasional backing. In a Blackened way during the weirdly titled "Manumit", for instance. Other deviations from the route set with earlier songs on the album comes with the strange drums/ percussion during the opening passage of "The Flutter Kings" and the ensuing ""Erased" (with its Spanish semi-acoustic passage) and "House Of Nadir" with its actually surprisingly...say sedate?...passages! Album closer "Coda" is back to the racey atmosphere of the first part of the album. 10 tracks for a total of almost 44 ½ minutes, and track lengths fluctuating from only 2:12 (in the case of the actually calmer instrumental "Tear") to a max of 7:04 ("The Thin Layers Of Lust And Love", with that Sabbath-ish intro, that weird Oriental passage, and hat calmer passage nearing the ending of the song). You know, it's freaky, because while occasionally the musicians do play almost "normal" and in-sinc with each other, each is also so technically high-standing and ready to prove that...all at once, which means you get moments where the 3 are almost playing in counter-rhythm with each other. Sounds complex, eh? And it is...but then you get the overall melody of things, and get wrapped away in it, enjoying each second of every track!

Definitely an album for the "best of" lists at the end of the year!

98/100

Tony.