After the good Watch for the Umbles, Norwegian dark progsters Gargamel are now back with their second full-lenght release: Descending.

The name of the album speaks for itself. This is a very descending ride indeed, working like a trip into the very dark regions of one's soul. The created atmosphere and the tone of the music seems to always been emulating a dark emotional feel, a sombre staircase of thoughts that is walked through in a descending way.

The album has only 4 tracks, and only one of those is less than 6 minutes long. The result is 47 minutes of inner turmoil turned into music.

If in their previous work the presented reminiscences were pointing more towards King Crimson in their Red era, with Descending there is an absolute and complete Van Der Graaf Generator feel, especially focused on the recreation of the atmospheres of Godbluff and World Record. To this reminiscent sound it is essential the way the pessimist lyrics are sung, in a tone and style that becomes the very best impersonation of Peter Hammill that I've ever heard. And this time around this is not a set back at all, as the emotional grandeur that is unleashed in every line is something that has to be reckon. In fact, one of the big assets to this album is the way the vocals interact with the music itself, as belonging together as two heads of a hellish monster of darkness.

The music is also very much reminiscent of the most dark moments of VDGG, but at the same time keeping a strong relationship to King Crimson and Anekdoten. This goes out through the first 3 tracks, as the fourth seems to present us a whole new band in a whole new perspective. Labyrinth is just like its name unveils: a labyrinth of psychedelia, strange and, lets face it, hard to endure. A fully bizarre experimental track where the band is exploring uncharted territories.

It took me sometime to get used to the music that is presented in this album. It is way too emotional and dark...but as that is exactly a style I tend to enjoy, at a certain point this became an album I just have to turn to at least once a week. And I enjoy it more every time I listen to it again.

The music has its crescendos and energy bursts of dark matter anger, but is also punctuated by fragile moments of despair and loss. And the music and vocals are pin-pointed on perfectly interpreting everyone of those feelings and emotions. The use of flutes and sax is very well incorporated, especially enriching the long instrumental parts, a trademark of this band.

I would only recommend this album to those who like the darker side of symphonic progressive rock, as this is truly a monolith of darkness with some sparse shining crystals . But those who like this sort of approach will undoubtedly love to explore the frightening corners of this album, while spiralling down the descending stairs.

This time Gargamel have surpassed my expectations.