It’s always fun to find something instrumental that you can really just lean back into without giving it much thought as to the lyrical content simply because there isn’t any! That approach has been a true staple for many modern rock acts with a good number of metal bands following suit, and most of those bands tend to fall into progressive styles because that just really makes for a more interesting instrumental listen more often than not. Nick Lent clearly understood that and took the advantage to provide us with quality work with his latest work that is everything an album of its kind should be.

While I’m not too huge into the cover art, it’s far from a bad representation of this album but, if you ask me, the real weight of this piece comes from nothing visual whatsoever. The speechless narration and the guidance of the instruments provide us with a glimpse into something that has way more than just a single layer and is a heavy burden that many people deal with on a daily basis: depression. “The Fog” is a damned good name for such a topic as it can truly feel like that’s what you’re sifting through every day of your waking existence, and it’s throughout all eight tracks that Nick Lent provides us with a dynamic listen that is pretty spot on for such a concept. Filled with peaks and valleys that show us plenty of what the struggle is like along with some damned good metal to go along with it, there isn’t much within the confines of this humble piece that isn’t to be commended despite there clearly being room for improvement as there is with many works of all kinds. By no means, though, is “The Fog” something that I feel should be skipped in any capacity. It’s a tremendous listen that checks off all the essential boxes for a work like this and it tackles a sensitive topic with undeniable power and grace that are both handled masterfully.

There will always be dozens, if not hundreds, of albums that tackle the harsh and difficult concept that’s done here, but Nick Lent tackles it surprisingly well to make this album not only an interesting listen but a meaningful one at that. “The Fog” has many hidden glimpses of genius throughout it, and I’ve no doubt whatsoever that given time this album will be seen as a humble starting point for a very talented musician.
LISTEN to “The Fog” on Bandcamp here.