Band:	Ne Obliviscaris
Album:	Portal Of I
Style:	Extreme progressive metal
Release date:	May 07, 2012
Guest review by:	Lucerna

01. Tapestry Of The Starless Abstract
02. Xenoflux
03. Of The Leper Butterflies
04. Forget Not
05. And Plague Flowers The Kaleidoscope
06. As Icicles Fall
07. Of Petrichor Weaves Black Noise

I was introduced to this band by a friend of mine whose taste in metal was quite similar to mine; he showed me a video of "As Icicles Fall". This took my attention, and I decided to check these guys out; and I was very pleased with what I heard.

It is clear that they are influenced by well-known bands such as Opeth, but they easily obtain their status as an original band with their style of progression, and not to forget, their violin. Normally, violins either bore me or sound whiny. But in Portal of I it takes a very active role, revealing even complete solos that, without a doubt, are mind-blowing.

While very energetic, this album also knows quiet and calm times, and manages to transits very well between the two. While the entire album carries a heavy emotional load, they succeed in taking a break in every song when the violin takes over the lead and the drums transit into an interesting, almost jazz-like rhythm, rather than double-bassing its way through. "Forget Not" has a five-minute long intro before returning to the intense energy blasts that every riff produces - but this intro is far from boring as the violinist performs with emotion and skill.

Ne Obliviscaris sound is kind of pretentious, but not too pretentious (which is what kills a lot of symphonic metal for me, personally). Portal Of I is, in my eyes, a true piece of art; full of beautiful frustrations let out in an angry, but sophisticated way. Definitely an album everyone even moderately interested in either black or progressive metal should check out.

Keep an eye on these guys, because I have the feeling their next release will be even more epic... somehow.