Band:	Enemy Of Reality
Album:	Where Truth May Lie
Style:	Symphonic progressive metal
Release date:	February 24, 2023
A review by:	tominator

01. Final Prayer
02. Downfall
03. At The Edge Of Madness
04. The Vineyard Song
05. Serenade Of Death
06. Ever-Lusting
07. Tears Of Echo
08. Long-Forgotten
09. Deliverance
10. Goat-Legged Deceiver
11. Baptised In Fire

Easy to listen to, but so forgettable, you’ll forget how forgettable it was...

Does that intro make sense? I don’t know, but it’s how I feel about Where Truth May Lie, if I’m honest with you. Symphonic metal is often hit or miss for me. SPOILER ALERT... this is a miss, unfortunately. Did Enemy Of Reality do anything that’s necessarily wrong? Not really, but they’ve made a pretty unmemorable record. So forgettable, you probably have a bigger chance of remembering what you’ve had for breakfast 23 days ago...

I feel like the production doesn’t really help here. Is it bad? No, not really. Is it exciting? About as much as choosing between different packs of toilet paper at the store... I wish this album had a more bombastic and epic sound, because this production just feels practical and as a result lacks depth. A more bombastic production would help with giving this record a bit more energy, something which it desperately needs, if you ask me. However, what we actually have is an album that continuously seems to be holding back.

The music itself and the performances of the band members are again something that is totally fine, but not that much more. Vocals are solid, and the musicianship is competent, but just like with the production, it seems like they shy away from doing something unique or special. TV drama series could learn a thing or two from Enemy Of Reality on how to create cliffhangers; each time there was some sort of build-up towards something interesting, it fell flat for me.

A (possibly) positive thing about Where Truth May Lie, is that it’s very easy-going. It definitely isn’t a chore to get through. So, in terms of pacing and flow, it feels quite well put together. However, in this case, easy-going also means that it slips way too easily into background noise.

All the songs on this record start to blend into each other for the most part. It's like going to a restaurant and being served a menu consisting only of sand cakes. Sand cakes that are so dry they are made out of actual sand. And honestly, whether that sand comes from the Sahara Desert or the Kalahari Desert isn’t going to make a lot of difference... And just like you would go away from that restaurant with an empty stomach, Where Truth May Lie left me hungry for that spark of excitement I was looking for.

Where does that leave us? Well, I can’t necessarily say that Enemy Of Reality made a bad album with Where Truth May Lie. As background noise, it’s actually pretty pleasant. I can also imagine that the overall straightforward and easy-going approach they went for will resonate with some people. Me personally? I would have hoped for a bit more bombast and personality. I’m sure the band is capable of that, but for me, it’s not showing here.