The first time I heard this, I wasn't really sure what was going on - it's strange, but hypnotically beautiful. Aesma Daeva is the brainchild of John Prassas, who, as the story goes, decided to adapt the classical music he was weaned on to a heavier genre. Thus we have Aesma Daeva ["shining light"], almost industrial-sounding [wonder if I'll get away with that], guitar and synth-driven music with the trademark soaring vocals that befit the Gothic genre so well.

The album starts off with O Death [Rock Me Asleep], the lyrics allegedly penned by Anne Boleyn before her execution, and indeed this album borrows extensively [i.e. steals] from other poets, mainly Keats. This is quite a heavy track, as are the next three - Downvain, Stay and Disdain – but they are overrun by classical influence, shown in the vocals [Rebecca Cords] and the synths, which from time to time almost resemble classical guitars, and it is an 'almost'. The result carries a certain elegance, in spite of being so unusual. Do not expect anything immediately 'catchy' here though, the intention behind work such as this is that it demands the listener spends time on it and appreciates it.

Though Here Lies One is an album with great depth, the songs aren't particularly layered, but they will have you hooked because they are intriguing. This certainly goes for When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be, Inroit II and the enchanting Sanctus. However, it's all a little morbid ["My pains, who can express - Alas, they are so strong", "with murder in my eyes and malice in my heart I drop the curtain on the bloodiest of tragedies", "Hark, you shadows that in darkness dwell"], but you can't ignore the beauty, which is transfixing. It's dark, but Aesma Daeva show that dark can definitely be beautiful.