Soft Hell
Soft Hell takes Closure In Moscow towards a smoother kind of progressive rock. The sharp changes and restless energy are still there, but funk rhythms, pop melodies and warm vocal layers get more room. It is an album with plenty happening inside each song, even when the band settle into a relaxed groove. That combination works best when the rhythm is allowed to lead.
Jaeger Bomb is a lively introduction, bringing jagged timing and electronic details into a direct opening track. Primal Sinister follows with a strong sense of swagger. Its guitar breaks and firm bass line give the song a physical pull, while the vocals keep it close to a big rock chorus. It is one of the clearest examples of the band's ability to make detailed playing feel easy.
Elsewhere, the album gets softer around the edges. Holy Rush has a danceable pulse, and the title track moves further into the space between rock and R&B. Keeper of the Lake offers a quieter change in pace. The guitar, bass and drums remain active throughout, but they often work around the singing instead of trying to take over the song.
There are moments when that careful approach becomes a limitation. Absolute Terror Field has appealing sounds and a good bass presence, but its movement is less convincing than its detail. Parts of the middle stretch stay in a similar mood for too long. Some songs begin with vocals and keyboards in ways that become familiar, and the production can make the guitars feel flatter than the arrangements suggest they should be.
The later tracks help bring back a sense of direction. Don Juan Triumphant gives the guitar a more extended role, while Lovelash restores some forward drive before the gentler My Dearest Kate closes things out. The ending suits the record's more emotional, less frantic approach, even if the overall pacing could be tighter.
Soft Hell is strongest as an album of grooves, voices and small instrumental details. It is less immediately exciting than its brightest moments promise, but there is a distinctive band working beneath the smooth surface. Listeners who enjoy melodic progressive rock with a taste for funk should find plenty to return to.
