Hailing from Trondheim, Norway and toiling away in relative obscurity for over a decade, this five-piece play a technically-proficient yet not hook-free form of melodeath that does enough things differently to stand out from the pack. Hypermass have released a full-length in 2022 too as well as another EP and multiple singles, which is apparent in their expert and confident songwriting, riff-focused and groovy yet not afraid to be of the underground as opener Supernova Collective here quickly makes plain. Somewhere between a more aggressive take on the modern Soilwork sound with something of the progressive groove of West Virginians Byzantine, Hypermass remind you of multiple bands at once whilst never quite seeming to copy anyone. And although on the surface they may seem a little derivative thanks to, say, vocalist Markus Sundet's 'core-y bellow the guitarwork of Sindre Dagestad and Thomas Pedersen soon marks them out, melodic yet intensely focused, as does the impressive battering from sticksman Torgeir Aambø.

It's this that first caught your reviewer's attention, and the guitarwork which kept him listening. Each track manages to do something differently, the dip towards thrash in Cult Vendor complimented by plenty of melodic lead guitar to push the piece towards prog, contrasted nicely by the more 'core-feeling of the following Neovortex's first half. The second breaks ranks and rushes off into complete prog territory with some surprisingly uplifting soloing, and although they bring it back home with more of a groove metal shift by the end, it again is married up expertly. Groove metal may be the watchword for a solid chunk of the runtime here, yet as Headcase shows it's a technical and invigorating form that is a long way from hated 90s doldrums, even showing avant-garde flair with some widdly country-fried guitar. Closer A Perfect Imbalance stands out, too, with more of a modern metal assault assuaged by some more expertly applied prog influences in the riffs and a nicely atmospheric closing section. Perhaps the worst you can say is that some songs go on just a little longer than necessary? Yet the band are always a pleasure to listen to, and Apparition Day shows their talents off well; a name to remember.