Label: Dark Symphonies

Tracks:

1. Stones Of October's Sobbing. 7:27
2. Gleam In Ranks. 4:18
3. Bizarre Flowers/A Violent Mist. 9:38
4. (Interlude 3). 4:19
5. The Curve That To An Angle Turn'd. 8:24
6. Sleep Is A Curse. 5:40
7. Riseth He, The Numberless. 9:33
8. (interlude 4). 5:13
9. Monstrously Low Tide. 6:46

Musicians:

• Jason Bitner - trumpet
• Byron - vocals, keyboards, percussion
• Toby Driver - vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, cello, percussion
• Mara-Stella Fountolakis - vocals
• Sam Gutterman - vocals, drums percussion, guitar
• Greg Massi - vocals, guitar
• Nicholas Kyte - bass
• Terran Olson - vocals, keyboards, clarinet, flute, percussion
• Josh Seipp-Williams - guitar

Guest musicians:

• Sky Cooper - guitar on 9
• Anna Wetherby - viola

This it is the other maudlin of the Well album, appeared at the same time than "Bath", that already I have commented before. Two albums that are complemented perfectly, where there is not big stylistic differences, that they could be released as a double album instead of by separated, so it's obvious that we must not conform with having only one, both form in some way, a unit. Besides, confirmed by the leader Toby Driver, "Bath" would go conceptually before than Leaving Your Body Map, so they would be parts one and two of a only work.

By differentiating in something both albums, such time "Leaving your Body Map" could be something more close to the inclinations of the progressive public, although I would say that is a few darker and grunt singer works a little more, than in Bath.

In this album we have surprising pieces as the first one "Stones Of October' s Sobbing", a dark track where combine doom metal and the grunt voices, with wind instruments in the vein of avant-garde bands. Then they are great tracks full of changes, progressions and keyboard solos, destined to open minded prog-heads ("Gleam in Ranks", "The Curve That To An Angle Turn'd", "Riseth He The Numberless", "Monstrously Low Tide"), atmospheric tracks more close to Porcupine Tree ("Bizarre Flowers"), or the two interludes and "Sleep Is a Curse", that are folkie and symphonic tracks, with wind melodies, cello and viola of greatness beauty.

In conclusion, I'll say that the own band defines its music as Astral Metal, and that already are recording new album, which is predicted to go out this summer.

Anyone who is in search of new musical forms, can try with maudlin of the Well, and these two simultaneous albums. Personally "Leaving your Body Map"pleases me a little more than "Bath", but few times in a pair of CD's will count so much the personal taste as in this case.

Rating: 8.5/10

Ferran Lizana