Sear Bliss are not a particularly easy band to describe. "Phantoms" found them launching headfirst into experimental territories that whilst commendable, saw them falling at the jack of all trades, master of none hurdle. Still, the three years since their debut has given Sear Bliss ample time to readjust and hone their sound. "The Haunting" finds the Hungarian quintet trading in some (but by no means all) of their eclecticism for a touch more power.

Debut track "Tunnels of Vision" is not the most auspicious of starts, however. Yes there is a freshness to the songwriting, but the actual execution is in severe need of tightening. Nope, the manifestation of rejuvenation does not become apparent until the band launch into "Hell Within", with its combination of experimental atmosphere and metal, managing to punch like a good'un and yet maintain an air of serenity at the same time. This mix carries through the entire album, and is decent to the point where I grimace when the band strip the atmosphere and launch into straight Black Metal territory and wind up sounding too crude for words. Moments such as these are few and far between, thankfully, and by and large most of the tracks herein are more than capable of standing up on their own two feet, yet overall I find "The Haunting" just that bit too messy to achieve a better status.

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