Review by JD on September 5, 2011.

I smiled as I unpacked my latest albums, as I spotted a name that I recognized right off the bat. Polish Prog-metallers Votum have blessed this old rocker’s desk with another heavy and very quirky album. This one I just gotten is the preceding album to the one I had reviewed last year ("Metafiction" - rating 8.4)

Oddness aside, Votum is a band filled and fuelled by a group of very accomplished musicians playing what can be described as very eclectic metal. Imagine if Rush, Opeth and Pink Floyd all mixed together and got nasty heavy in spots and then add in Queensryche for fill... that is what this is. It is a fire-breathing artistic monster with the heart of a true artist and the metallic body of a road warrior.... a fact that this older album still showed.

Taking the time to listen to this album was a pleasure, as many songs peaked my interest with its heavy yet complex music and very intelligent lyrics. Songs like the emotional yet still heavy 'Me In The Dark' or the brooding mid-tempoed metal punch of 'Passing Scars' inspires the imagination and feeds the metallic heart all at once.

This album is a amazing musical ride, that pushes the boundaries of metal. A thinking persons metal, if you will. It is impressive as hell, and shows so clearly how this band had progressed in just a few short years. It is not as good as "Metafiction" was... yet "Time Must Have A Stop" stands proudly on its own as a amazing piece of music. It is not just heavy... it is an eye opening experience.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.0 out of 10