When the keyboard is used as a replacement piano, it produces a suitable backdrop, but just sounds nasty and superfluous when attempting to approximate strings. I sincerely hope that some of the gothic trappings will be discarded on future releases -- a description of their lyrics as "tears dressed in letters" belongs in abysmal poetry written by "I-am-sooo- rebellious" fourteen year olds, not in a band whose members are old enough to drink.

From production through to design and marketing, the band have clearly put a great deal of effort into this album (which they describe as a "mini-album", and it just staggers past the half hour mark -- if _Reign in Blood_ can be regarded as a full-length...), and I cannot dispute their drive. Sadly, it has resulted in a rather standard entrant to the dark/goth metal pantheon.