Prolific Swedish guitarist Mike Wead (aka Mikael Wikstrom) has had a hand in various incarnations of Memory Garden, Hexenhaus, Candlemass/Abstrakt Algebra, Mercyful Fate/King Diamond and Memento Mori, to name just the universally recognizable outfits. After the ‘Leaving Shangri-la’ intro, there’s seven melodic prog-death metal selections, something of a surprise, given Wead’s pedigree, and at just 38:01, a bit on the short side too. In addition to the gruff vocalizations, there are clean guest stars: Matthias Ljung (Hearse), Kristian Andren (who worked with Wead in Fifth Reason and Memento Mori, after ex-Candlemass vox Messiah departed) and Ronny (Tad Morose/Steel Attack) Hemlin.

The guitar, drum and keyboards of ‘Mourning Becomes’ lets the progressive air shine. Ditto the start of ‘I Am Legion’, the titular chorus beginning as a mere whisper. ‘Stigma Diaboli’ is essentially an instrumental, the pulsating, off kilter keyboard crescendo (reminiscent of the theme to early 80s sci-fi mess Liquid Sky) is punctuated solely by female moans and heavy breathing. Wead gets back to more typical shredding on ‘Walk Into Light’, but can’t resist throwing a church organ into the background. Interesting, if oft incoherent.