It has been a true pleasure to review this album. Its depth unfolds and expands more with each listen, and I find myself continuing to notice different instrumental nuances which creates a multidimensional and emotional landscape. While “Mære” definitely has its moments of grief, anguish, and in general depressive themes, there is constant forward movement in the music which keeps us afloat. I don’t find myself succumbing to the darkness, rather I feel motivated to fight it. “Mære” is like the soundtrack to an epic battle between an individual and the endless hordes of darkness that lay within him / her. Yes there is anger, and yes it can be frightening, but I also feel surprisingly safe listening to this. There is a level of predictability in the music that enables this safety: gorgeous guitar motifs that we keep returning to which puts ground beneath our feet. This happens most notably in ‘Once Upon A Winter’ – a ten plus minute track in which HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY masterfully weaves a thread of hope throughout the despair by exploring familiar melodic passages in various ways, which adds a continuity of theme into the journey. This is an impressive feat. It’s a strong temptation when writing epic music to diverge too far from your origin, but HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY have kept their roots deep in the soil. There is emotional maturity in this music which far surpasses what is typical in the genre. There is also of course the technical and songwriting mastery that is expected from HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY. Every song has such a clearly defined structure, opening, and closing – every “i” has been dotted and every “t” crossed. This sense of completion further secures us. Above all, the production value in this album is truly outstanding. The sound quality alone will bring me back again and again as there are many ways that one can interact with this tier of music. I can bang my head to the intensity of it, be swallowed by the anger and grief in the vocals, hum along to the oh-so-catchy guitar leads, or focus on the more subtle piano accompaniments that are hiding behind the rhythm guitar, adding a gorgeous resonance that is incredibly tasteful. Wrapping up this album is a re-envisioning of PLACEBO’s ‘A Song To Say Goodbye.’ Needless to say, it’s pretty amazing. This album feels more thought out than their previous work, and I’m very excited about the direction they are moving. It is an incredible achievement for them, and a hopeful start to the new year. Favorite Track: ‘Us Against December Skies’. More information you will find at: www.facebook.com/harakiriforthesky, www.facebook.com/aoprecs