It's been well over a decade since the UK's dark metal/prog outfit Thine made a recorded appearance with 2002's In Therapy, but the ensuing years have seen them slowly putting together the pieces that would eventually become The Dead City Blueprint, their latest album for Peaceville Records. Continuing on with their sound that bridges together such influences as Katatonia, Anathema, King Crimson, Marillion, Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, and Genesis, Thine offers up 10 tracks of moody, emotional music here that's not quite metal, not quite progressive rock, but floats somewhere in between and using elements from both art forms.
Chances are if you love the soaring, melodic, and melancholy sounds of modern day Anathema, you'll fall head over heels for The Dead City Blueprint. This is not overly upbeat material, instead tunes such as "Brave Young Assassin", "Out of Your Mind and Into a Void", "The Great Unknown", and the title track ooze and drift, with dreamy soundscapes, melodic vocals, and layers of guitar textures providing the framework. Many of these tunes are painfully beautiful, with the occasional heavy rocker like "To the Precipice" and "Flame to the Oak" providing the more aggressive moments. Though moody stuff like this might not appeal to everyone, I find this a hell of a lot more rewarding than the last few Katatonia releases, and though Thine aren't quite as successful at capturing your heart like recent Anathema, I'd have to say they are not far behind. Lots to like here, so make sure to check this one out.
Track Listing
1) Brave Young Assassin
2) Flame to the Oak
3) Out of Your Mind and Into a Void
4) To the Precipice
5) The Dead City Blueprint
6) The Great Unknown
7) The Rift
8) The Beacon
9) Scars From Limbo
10) Adrift Through the Arcane Isles of Recovery
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