Discovering a new album from The Appleseed Cast is an odd experience - with frequent lineup changes, rarely the same band has remained together between albums, and with Illumination Ritual, their 8th full-length album, releasing today, again, the status has changed.  But I’m very pleased to say that on this album, their first full-length with Graveface Records (who put out their 2011 Middle States EP), the changes may have made for their most comprehensive album yet.

Listening to the Appleseed Cast’s discography is almost like listening to a selection of brilliant side projects, with the way they link yet each album retains a unique sound and feel. Anchored by singer/songwriter Chris Crisci, they’ve gone from the early 90’s emo sound found in their debut The End of the Ring Wars, to the epic post-rock feel of their 2001 double album Low Level Owl, to most recently, the mostly instrumental Sagarmatha.  Some elements have always remained-  swirlling, rising guitars, lost in the mix vocals, intricate drumming and a driving feel to every song, to persist as a soundtrack of life - but I don’t know that they’ve ever come together as brilliantly as they do on Illumination Ritual.

The biggest change on the album comes with the further integration of keyboards. Since Low Level Owl, electronic elements have always been key - to the point where the 2002 Lost Songs collection was described as old demos combined with LLO-style electronics - but for the first time they feel more like a key element of the songs, less like ambient soundscapes.  This is particularly apparent in “Simple Forms”, but don’t fret - the band hasn’t transitioned to an entirely electronic act.  The opening song “Adriatic To Black Sea” has one of the greatest rocking transitions in any of their songs to date, and “Cathedral Rings” and “Barrier Islands (Do We Remain)” stand to become live favorites.

Speaking of “Barrier Islands”, it’s part of one of the albums best moments, a four song closing suite that transitions perfectly between tracks 7-10, including “North Star Ordination”, which die hard fans may recall as a part of their demo project last year.  The way these four songs link together is one of the albums most exhilarating moments, and has already resulted in many repeat plays.

It’s hard to imagine that given so many of their forebears leaving the industry or otherwise reinventing themselves (or going for that sweet reunion show cash) that 15 years in the Appleseed Cast would still be creating smart, relevant and brilliant music, but perhaps there is true function to the bands internal dysfunction   New lineups continue to give this band  new life, and in Illumination Ritual, it may have provided their best album yet. Sure to be one of the best of 2013, I highly recommend it.