Voice of the Void
Voice of the Void gives Anciients' progressive metal a darker, more forceful character. The guitars remain central, moving between thick riffs, melodic leads and more elaborate exchanges. Clean singing and harsh vocals keep the texture varied. The strongest songs turn that range into convincing movement, although the long sequence does not always make the best use of its material.
Following the Voice begins with urgency. The guitars work around one another while the drums drive the performance forward, and the movement between clean and harsher singing adds to the attack. It is a confident opening that shows how powerful the band can sound when the arrangement has a clear direction.
Buried in Sand takes a more ambitious route. Its heavy beginning develops into a more spacious, melodic passage, with the singing becoming a stronger guide through the changes. There is plenty of good playing, but the shift can also feel abrupt. The song's scale is impressive without making every transition equally convincing.
Pentacle is more direct. Its riffs and active drums provide force without losing the vocal hooks. The shorter shape suits the band's ability to combine heavy playing with an immediate melodic idea. It is a useful reminder that the arrangements do not always need a larger structure to make an impression.
Descending offers acoustic guitar and softer, bluesy detail. The pause is attractive, though its position before Ibex Eye's extended introduction slows the album's momentum. Once the latter develops, the changing voices and stronger rhythmic movement give it much more character.
Serpents begins in a subdued mood, with the clean singing helping its heavier passages feel expressive. Incantations also works between softer and more forceful material, finding a stronger connection as it moves towards its final stretch. These later songs provide good reasons to stay with the record.
The main weaknesses are length and consistency. Some passages feel more like displays of influences and technique than necessary parts of a song, and the dense production can reduce the impact of the playing. Voice of the Void contains excellent guitar work and several strong complete performances. A little more editing and space would make its considerable strengths easier to appreciate as a whole.
