Listening to NEGATIVE PLANE is like hanging out with a babbling old alchemist. He usually rambles on in very archaic language you can hardly understand. His stories can start in the middle and sometimes have conclusions that leave you baffled. You continue to endure his company because occasionally, he will demonstrate something fascinating. What makes NEGATIVE PLANE simultaneously cool and frustrating is that they really have something different to offer; their music just tends to meander too much for my taste. “Stained Glass Revelations” continues directly in line with NEGATIVE PLANE’s debut; that is, collages of weird midpaced riffing topped with vocals in the bellowing Tom Warrior style. The production is completely reverbed out (which may add atmosphere or annoy the shit outta you depending on who’s listening). Traces of strange magic appear, mainly in the 4 or so instrumentals (the Metal intro ‘The Fall’ sounds massive with its use of ominous bells). ‘Angels Of Veiled Bone’ made me think of VED BUENS ENDE, which a rare and great thing. “Stained Glass Revelations” is a welcome change from the usual formulaic Black / Death, however, its convoluted nature may render it only an occasional listen. www.theajnaoffensive.com