"Sister" has more in common with Sisters of Mercy than it does Mercyful Fate. While this observation would have had most proverbially sweating (including yours truly), In Solitude naturally progressed into this new frontier excellently. The movement into gothic rock territory seems like it was an incredibly smooth transition, and really not that surprising given Pelle �hman's low register and the group's signature brooding atmosphere. The sound of "Sister" is obviously a wonderful progression for In Solitude. The opening "He Comes," an acoustic introduction, slithers around �hman's ritualistic voice with a familiar texture that the band's previous records hold, though seen under this new lens. Although just one of the eight cuts, the song shows the band shedding its skin yet paying homage to In Solitude's primordial roots.

�hman sounds much more natural within this setting than the self-titled debut and "The World. The Flesh. The Devil." though those were hardly lackluster efforts. It simply feels like a band in its prime. The riffs and musical movements are also remarkably bold and fresh, running through a gauntlet of harrowing melodies and passionate structures. The seven-minute "A Buried Sun" sounds like a Danzig song gone to Hell and back, bruising through a smoldering chorus and haunting lead guitar work. Heavier anthems like "Pallid Hands" and the title track show flares of In Solitude's former works, yet glimmers of a punk-laden shade grace "Lavender" and others�each track is in a sphere of its own. Even Jarboe of Swans fame makes a cameo; her appearance is profoundly fitting.