What we have here with Dark Logic is a highly technical, very aggressive, and oh so enjoyable slab of Progressive Metal. I would say however that Loch Vostok has more in common with the deathy side of things like Into Eternity rather than the main stalwart of Prog Metal, Dream Theater. I will say however that Into Eternity are a lot more accessible than this group, as Loch Vostok are definitely on the fringe of the genre.

Teddy Moellor’s voice when he sings cleanly remind me very much of Tom Englund, which is a good thing. They both possess a gravelly and emotionally filled tone and unlike most other groups that employ both harsh and clean vocals, these work. Layered death and clean vocals are a staple of the songs on here and they give a really different and interesting sound instead of just going with a simple clean chorus or distorted bridge. Guitar wise there are some meaty and fulfilling riffs with multiple stop / start time changes and shifting patterns. Clean passages are placed strategically to heighten the atmosphere and create tension as well as contrasting sharply against the harshness that occurs when the music changes gears and goes all out brutal. The drumming at times might seem almost chaotic, Alvano Svanero isn’t content with simple beats and rhythms, he is literally all over the place with numerous fills and arrhythmic playing. If you take the time to zone in on his playing alone you will be impressed. An abundance of keyboards is also prevalent without being overbearing and distracting. Synthetic strings are the mainstay but there are also electronic effects and jarring solos as well. Put together each instrument (and yes the voice IS an instrument in music) and the mix you have is eclectic, unique, and pleasantly enjoyable.

The opener Admire and Resent isn’t the best track to open the album with, I find it a bit pedestrian especially compared with Impressions. Now this song is definitely a killer. A powerful and driving guitar riff and the best vocal performance on the album, Impressions is the entire essence of the band in a six minute fifty one second nutshell. Naked has an extremely heavy and thrashy Prog vibe to it, a sweet blend of two terrific genres. A tad shorter, clocking in at less than five minutes, this is straight to the hilt metal and meant to be played at a high volume or not at all. The somber closer, Narcosis is slower in tempo but not in emotion. Simpler when compared to the rest of the album musically, this is mainly a showcase for the vocals as Teddy goes from grunts and growls to piercing shrieks and wails at the drop of a hat, a nice way to end the album in my opinion.

Loch Vostok is one of those bands that you will either love or hate. I would recommend this to already staunch Prog Metal fans because if you aren’t used to this style of metal then it will probably sound confusing to the untrained ear. I don’t mean for that statement to sound condescending however, it took me years to get into bands of this nature. Dark Logic is no easy listening music and has no instantly catchy sing along melodies for the listener to find. This is metal that is meant to be meticulously dissected and analyzed.