US-based metal band Cea Serin's first studio album, "Where Memories Combine", released just over 10 years ago, is admittedly one of my favorite albums of all time. I could go into a review of that album as well, but it would sound much the same as this one in its overall description of Cea Serin's music and what sets it apart: great melodies and guitar riffs, impactful dynamics especially in the vocals, clips of spoken word, intelligent lyrics, great songwriting.

Jay Lamm, blessed with profuse talent on many fronts (short story writing being the most recently revealed) played the roles of composer, lyricist, vocalist, keyboardist, and bassist as well as programming a drum machine on the first album. "The Vibrant Sound of Bliss and Decay" adds real life drummer Rory Faciane to the fold and again showcases the considerable talents of guitarist Keith Warman. Second studio album "The Vibrant Sound of Bliss and Decay" consists of five tracks, the first two conceived long ago and released as a demo, but now recorded in studio quality for this album. A fast-tempo attack starts things off in 'Holy Mother', a tune about drug-induced experiences that includes the first of many searing guitar solos by Warman. Fantastic song! Atmospheric tones and spoken word clips set the stage for the forthcoming syncopated beats of 'Illumination Mask'. A beautiful rendition of the 1993 Sarah McLachlan song 'Ice' allows the listener to relax with the sounds of piano, acoustic guitar, and smooth vocals before entering the second half of the album which contains two brand new original songs.

The piece-de-resistance awaits with 'The Victim Cult', plunging in first with aggressive vocals, then with clean vocals. Displaying all the best features of this band's style, 'The Victim Cult' is the one to share with prospective fans, made all the more easy via an official lyric video of the track (https://youtu.be/OFy3iD_zF7k). Both sorrowful and powerful, 20-minute album closer 'What Falls Away' has it all, including powerful harmonies, varied tempos, and prominent bass line. "The Vibrant Sound of Bliss and Decay" is a multifaceted album so full of variation and complexity that even hundreds of listens later, one hears new things from the music and is never bored. Do yourself a favor and pick up this album and give it a good number of listens - you'll be impressed.