Ataraxie - Project X (2011)

   "Project X" by Ataraxie is everything but a usual compilation. Though it fits to the main concept, cause it includes their first demo, some live songs, and a few other surprises, they didn't just re-released "The Other Path", but recorded and wrote the songs again according to their present perspective.
   This resulted longer songs than before with more themes and of course great sound quality. It's definitely not surprising from a band who pays so much attention on the details and keeps producing death/doom in excellent quality since their debut. Ataraxie's productiveness is quite impressive, and in longer duration it seems even more evident (since it's a 2,5 hours long double album). There's no boring or overly repetitive moments to find during that time, thanks to the great song compositions and the themes diversity. Unlike about most other bands in the genre, it might be difficult to tell about Ataraxy that because they play death/funeral doom, slowly agonizing and repetitive themes are the most memorable features in their music, though it definitely gives the basic tone. The reason why is that is kind of complex, and it's literraly meant, because on the side of great leads, catchy melodies, atmospheric tone, they also operated with overwhelmingly obscure heaviness and very intense blackened themes. By a Bethlehem cover they also told one of their probably inspiring sources that builds on the contrast of hopeless depression and outbreaking anger/suffer; a contrast they frequently like to apply. This common influence, the endeavor for excellent quality both in sound and music, and their impressive productiveness shows some analogy with Mourning Dawn. The only reason why "Project X" might be not so easy to go into for some, is it's extended lenght. But since it's filled with great themes and musical solutions, it's definitely able to keep the listeners attention, and requiers plenty of occasions to listen over and over again to get all of it's hidden dark gems revealed.