Band:	Ensoph
Album:	Project X-Katon
Style:	Avantgarde metal, Gothic metal
Release date:	February 2006

01. In The Name Of Freedom
02. Condemned
03. Kirillow's Bullet (Aleksjej Nilyc: A Russian Trilogy Pt. 1)
04. D-Generation
05. Icons In The Dust
06. Un Petalo Di Pieta'
07. Getsemani
08. The Source Becoms Desert
09. Holy Bleeds (Rodian Romanyc: A Russian Trilogy Pt.2)
10. Pain, Pride And Regret
11. Leaving No Trace Behind (Ivan Karamazov: A Russian Trilogy Pt. 3)
12. In The Name Of Freedom (Reprise)

Ensoph is a sick, twisted band with a lot of good ideas under their sleeve, I have no doubt about this. In 2004 they blew me away with their sophomore effort "Opus Dementiae" an interesting album full of innovative ideas. A couple of years later we have their new opus, Project X-Katon. My first impression is that, despite the weirdness of the cover art, it doesn't top the one from their previous album, that was total madness!

Anyway, onto the music then. Somewhere I read that with this album Ensoph are ready to be a big hit on the German Gothic scene (and that's a big market as you should know), from a commercial point of view some people are already considering this album as a big success. But to the average non-leather, non-SDM paraphernalia Metalhead, this release counts? Let's dig in a little deeper here.

While musically this album is less "challenging" than Opus Dementiae, it still holds the trademark sound of Ensoph, distorted, twisted songwriting with a wide array of influences that go from Avant-garde to Electro to Folk Metal. Ensoph music is composed of many little elements, almost imperceptible at first listen, but you can find many layers of sound within each song, you got the occasional flute (more prominent on their previous release) electronic beeps here and there, and vocals that range from blackened shrieks to clear deep male vocals.

The album has something for all tastes, if you like to take a peek to the more harsh, Metal side of the band, you should check out "D-generation" if you like to hear the mandatory hit singles of the album take a look at " Icons In The Dust" and "The Source Becomes Desert", if you like to check out the weirder side of these Italians, don't forget to check out "Un Petalo De Pieta'", also The first 1500 CD's come with the extra 3" CD "The Seductive Dwarf EP", where Ensoph plays together with Steve Sylvester of Death SS.

Maybe not as challenging and exotic as their previous effort, but still a mandatory release for those seeking something interesting to hear for a change.