Extol - The Blueprint Dives (2005)^{Release ID: 10272}

Beginning as a progressive death metal band, Synergy was Extol's twist into a more thrashy sound that surprised their listeners. Then came another progression in sound... The Blueprint Dives is a superb album, but not for those who prefer their earlier deathly era. Simply this album is for those who like something more melodic and technical. I guess you can say it's a blueprint to a different sound evolution, more melodic while staying complex! How progressive is that?!

I really love the lyrics here. They're Christian, though I'm not, but it's a pleasant break from all the irreligious satanic sh*t that other extreme bands have. Extol can stand by their religious ground and that's something even a not-so-religious metalhead can appreciate. Those lyrics just sound so real, fitting with the melodies. Yep, there's a lot of melody in this album that shines so beautifully. Still there are times when vocals can get emotional in sadness and rage, which is what I prefer in progressive metal nowadays; melodic while a bit of extreme here and there.

What's not to love about "Gloriana"? It's a perfectly beautiful opener! "Soul Deprived" shows some of the most speedy intensity from a Christian band since Soul Embraced. Next track, the longer "In Reversal" decreases the harsh vocals for more of the cleans. Then "Pearl" has the clean vocals completely take over. Add a female vocalist and that would be Evanescence at that time.

In the middle of the intense "From the Every Day Mountain Top" is a soft acoustic guitar break. "Another Adam's Escape" lacks the spark the other songs have, but it doesn't cut down the album's solid perfection. The somber "The Things I Found" is my favorite track here. It starts almost dark, but the chorus is so emotional in the lyrics. Awesome!

Next track "Lost in Dismay" is another calm break. "Essence" is slightly weak but doesn't affect the rest of the album. The album is approaching its dark end with the somber "Void". The album closes with the highlight "The Death Sedative", reaching the most depressive point of the album, creating a darker atmosphere closer to post-metal. Of course, the US edition bonus track "Riding for a Fall" is also beautiful and intense.

If anyone wants to hear clean vocals from Extol, The Blueprint Dives is the best place for them. There's much more of them than any of the band's earlier material, and it's as perfect as the equally great screaming. Any metalhead as open-minded as I am, dive in!

Favorites: "Gloriana", "Soul Deprived", "Pearl", "The Things I Found", "Void", "The Death Sedative"