With its mix of male and female vocals, over chugging guitars, "Strange Land" starts like Lacuna Coil-style Gothic Metal. Yet not far into the song you discover it is a different beast all together with a slower pace and strange echo-y sounds in the background. This means that the chorus – which is more traditional – is doubly effective. The Flaw offer something different, not radical enough to alienate listeners, but enough to spark interest. "Seven Hours" features a full metal assault, but gliding keyboards help ensure the noise never descends into a racket. The instruments drop away and strange elongated sounds provide the backing for Alexandra's voice, recalling The Gathering. Guitarist Lars knows how to wield his guitar with scalpel-like efficiency.

Just like Sweden's The Mist Of Avalon, The Flaw understand that you can make heavy music without sacrificing atmosphere. "On A Windowshelf" shows this duality. There's something of Phantom Of The Opera, during the over-the-top-in-a-good-way instrumental section. "Fragile" has some elegant filigreed guitar, before great torrents of more guitar join the party. Aexandra has a hint of Portishead's Beth Gibbons to her voice, the emotional fragility of which marks out the band as something unique in a well-worn genre. An accordion-esque sound gives "All The Worlds Darkness" a folky feel. "Revelations" is rhythmically interesting, with use of staccato guitar and drums. The songs takes flight when the Gothic Metal woodpecker takes a break, but you can't fault the band for not being inventive with sound.

Languid guitar, over gentle - but insistent beats - form the basis of "The Tempest". Alexandra's voice swoops and soars. This breathy style gives a strong feeling of intimacy. Then things take a raucous turn into "Dark Light District" but appearances are deceptive and the guitars disappear for a while, before returning in earnest. This song never sounds random, though at times it is difficult to know where it will take you next. As long as The Flaw know where the journey will end I'm happy to go along for the write. "Mute" see Alexandra's voices under a layer of effects. This artificial-element gives the song an extra feeling of danger. The moody instrumental Outro brings matters to a Dead-Can-Dance-meets-Trip-Hop close.

By mixing disparate styles The Flaw have created something unusual. It could have been a Frankenstein-like monster, but thankfully we are in skilled hands. If you enjoy the emotional intensity of Gothic Metal, but have become tired with so many bands sounding the same it's time to investigate The Flaw.