Band:	Darkane
Album:	Layers Of Lies
Style:	Death metal, Thrash metal
Release date:	June 27, 2005
Guest review by:	Passenger

01. Amnesia Of The Wildoerian Apocalypse
02. Secondary Effects
03. Organic Canvas
04. Fading Dimensions
05. Layers Of Lies
06. Godforsaken Universe
07. Klastrophobic Hibernation
08. Vision Of Degradation
09. Contaminated
10. Maelstrom Crisis
11. Decadent Messiah
12. The Creation Insane
13. Subliminal Seduction [Japanese bonus]

Darkane immediately became one of my favourite Thrash Metal bands with their first full length, "Rusted Angel". I know that some people have followed their career with curiosity, maybe sometimes disappointed with their following releases, but who never forgot their talent. "Layers Of Lies" serves both those people and their hardcore fans, like me.

The greatest achievement of this new album is really how the band managed to digest all their influences and their taste for deviations into one solid album. I would argue that "Expanding Senses" was much more cohesive than some make it out to be, but the way "Layers Of Lies" was made catchier and subtly varied probably make this one more effective.

Clearly song writing and musicianship are two of the strengths of Darkane. The music is extremely precise and occasionally virtuous, and you don't hear the kind of guitar and drums solos you hear here everyday, every little detail is well crafted and placed in the backbone of each song, and you'll enjoy finding them as you advance. The album could probably be divided in two halves, the first, before, "Klaustrophobic Hibernation", being a bit faster paced than the second, melody spread all over though.

A classic Darkane elements makes its way into "Layers Of Lies" as well, the epic, semi-symphonic introduction, I was surprised, because they didn't have anything like this in "Expanding Senses", I thought they would never do anything similar again, but it was worth getting them back. Other instrumentals include a live sounding track with a classic Heavy Metal vibe in "Maelstrom Crisis" and the previously mentioned "Klaustrophobic Hibernation", a one dimensional riff repetition that can be skipped (only case, I guarantee you).

Finally, I'm glad to say that Andreas Sydow is at his best shape and the production is top notch, both contributing for the freshness and modern edge of the material. I vividly recommend Darkane, and "Layers Of Lies" may well be the best introduction you can get to the band.

Best tracks: Secondary Effects, Fading Dimensions, Layer Of Lies, Maelstrom Crisis