ČERNÁ is the project of Cody McCoy of prog rock act The Omega Experiment, and Restoring Life is the debut all-instrumental full length for Domestic Genocide. Though labeled as a 'post-blackened solo project', I'm not really sure exactly what that means. Yes, you can hear some bits of black metal & post-rock here in the guitar department, especially during the multi-part suite "Společně", but for the most part this album just meanders along, ebbing and flowing from tranquil, almost ambient passages to sections of distorted, jagged guitar thunder, and back to atmospheric melancholy. It's all pretty well done and constructed, if at times a little unremarkable, but you have to commend McCoy for creating some well crafted moodiness with effective use of guitar textures and layers.
More an album to provide a soundtrack to a dark rainy day than something you are going to crank in the car on a hot summer afternoon, Restoring Life is a somewhat unique listening experience that doesn't bowl you over with variety but pushes some buttons nonetheless. Some intense moments in spots and loads of tranquil atmosphere makes this something to look into.
Track Listing
1 Woken in Prague
2 Společně Part I: Shy Sun
3 Společně Part II: Laying Down in the Rain
4 Společně Part III: Night Sounds
5 Společně Part IV: Embrace the Stars
6 Společně Part V: Lullaby
7 Restoring Life [bonus track]
8 Isa [bonus track]