There is a tendency with symphonic or neo-classical inspired metal to over indulge certain riffs or progressions at the detriment of the song's overall intensity, which is antithetical to metal music. Vale of Pnath fortunately avoid such overindulgence and keep the song writing and riffs tight in "II". Excellent record.
The production of this album, though not its songwriting, has a very Ariel Pink vibe to it (as if you're listing to a cassette tape recorded from another tape that's sat in the sun on someone's dashboard for a few days) without the alt-right, Trumpy associations that Pinks drags along with himself.
