Even if Descendants Of Cain were in the position to release singles, I don't think their music would work in isolation. While listening to this album I enter a world they have created, the sum of the whole being greater than its constituents. "Organism" is a thrilling ride, with Darryl expressing himself with the certainty and declamatory style of an Old Testament preacher man. It's hard to argue with the statement: 'You cannot buy your happiness with the blood of children's screams'. Technically I guess it is better for a child's screams to bleed than a child, but we get the idea.

Tribal drumming gives "Transcendence" vim and vigour. Elsewhere "Seraphim's Desire" has a gentle electronic edge. While these are good songs, unless you are in the right sort of mood they do have a tendency to plod. Fans of Diary of Dreams probably won't mind this languid pace. Delicate filigreed guitar gives "Human" an edge, but I still think there needs to be a greater diversity of sound on offer. This song does show a good grasp of loud/quiet dynamic. "Prayer For Deliverance" has a particularly strong Fields of the Nephilim feel during the verse. "Hymn Of The Shades" has a welcome injection of speed, though it never quite takes off in the way I hope it will.

Stuttering guitars mixed with electronic noises give "Captive" a Nine Inch Nails-feel. There's a symphonic tinge to "The Hidden Voice" and Darryl sounds as impassioned as ever. "Break Down" sees the band take a rockier direction, which would work well on the dance floor. The instruments are stripped back for "The Listeners", which is refreshing. The lyrics are excellent, giving the listener the old one-two. At first Darryl seems to be enjoying a 'perfect day' as he muses: 'The sky is blue/The sun rose just for you'. Yet he soon realises: 'It's such a perfect state to know we all die alone.' Some Cure-like keyboards and guitars, circa Disintegration, make this song essential listening.

This CD comes with three hidden tracks at the end, the first is a brief instrumental, which is lovely. The second is more raucous. The third is a mixture of the two styles.

Live performances are mooted by the band's myspace page, though sadly they have yet to materialise. I'm glad that Descendants of Cain are still around; too many bands seem to fall by the wayside. The proficiency and commitment of the band is obvious. Sometimes I'd like a little more variety in their sound, but you can't deny that they do what they do well and I like what they do.