Boston-based InAeona are new to Prosthetic Records, but are not new to the heavy music scene. It is their well-honed sound that makes them sound confident on their latest album, Force Rise the Sun. Their first major label release puts them between post-modern metal and modern Pink Floyd style psychedelic sounds.

Album opener ‘Bright Black’ makes one feel as if they are watching the opening scene of a movie similar somewhere between Tron and Star Wars. The music director or composer for The Force Awakens should take note. Like its title, ‘A Ways Away’ is an instrumental that is simultaneously hollow and brimming with forlorn emotion. It too might go well with a pivotal movie scene.

Vocalist Bridge shines on the sublime ‘Ghosts’ while she wails with her guitar. Bassist Dave and drummer James provide the explosive support to her voice. Bridge also does wonders on ‘Soldier’. This is where she shows the most of her range and pours her emotion into the song. The end result is as fierce as Bridge appears. ‘Soldier’ is also the song most likely to get stuck in a person’s head; fitting for the end of the album. With this the band proves they can write tunes that are catchy and do not sacrifice their core sound.

InAeona are serious about making music true to their signature sound. However, they are not so serious that the album suffers in any way. With Force Rise the Sun they have created an album that may someday be looked upon as an early classic when the beginnings of post-modern metal are a part of history. One is left with an interest as to what they may put together next, but there is plenty to be sonically explored with this album until then.

8.5/10

MELISSA CAMPBELL