Oh, this is a tough one!!! Tough and unwieldy. CD-Maximum positions this release as heavy-prog, but I'd say "Within Or Without" is no stranger to hardcore elements in the vein of ISIS's "Oceanic," fragments of classic doom a la MOMENTO MORI, and acoustic escapades of PORCUPINE TREE. The resulting cocktail turned out potent, so the average stomach is unlikely to handle such a delicacy. Depression, the ringing echo of claustrophobia — an atmosphere so close to OPETH's "Deliverance"... Except there's none of that positive retro-gloss or those sweet nostalgic notes on "Within Or Without." The dosimeter needle twitches uncertainly — the intellectual background is slightly elevated, yet the guys are still far from the academic sophistication of PAIN OF SALVATION. A "golden mean." Halfway between underground status and the intrusive attention of majors.
Now for the technical aspects. Mike Wead himself (MERCYFUL FATE, ex-MOMENTO MORI, ex-CANDLEMASS) served as co-producer on "Within Or Without" — the wealth of knowledge and skill accumulated by this man naturally resulted in a not-quite-dense sound in the spirit of the old "school," very interesting and unusual by 2004 standards, allowing you to hear the compositions "through and through," catching the nuances of every part. The instrumentation is more "carpenter-like" — not a James Bond toolkit a la THE KOVENANT or SUSPERIA. And in all other respects, there are no clever tricks to be found. Except perhaps the vocalist's unsuccessful attempts to copy Messiah Marcolin (involuntarily bringing to mind the old chicken-and-egg riddle).
All in all, this record is strictly mood-dependent. Because sometimes you just want to sit on a little clearing like Eeyore with his gifted pot, and with a clear conscience zone out: "Goes in... and comes out... goes in... and comes out..."