The Prison of Souls starts its first track “Level 01 – Inception” with a sad sounding ambience that comes fading in, accompanied by what sound like things that could have been voices at one time at the edge of the mix. Then, an instrument vaguely voice-like sings, but not to the non-rhythm of what sounds like wood being knocked on chaotically. The notion that there are more voices at the edge of the mix, trying to break into the track becomes apparent, and then the track fades out.
The second track, “Level 02 – Escalation”, starts out with another haunting ambience, which is then overpowered by poltergeist-like noise which whirls about the mix with whispering voices and something ring-modulated. What was once maybe a choir accompanies it all. A gale blows, as if threatening to blow everything present out of the mix, and then calms down, leaving mostly the choir-like voice. Then metal clinks, like the chains of a poltergeist. There is a knock, and the track is over.
In “Level 03 – Desolation” there is a mysterious ambience, flowing water, wind, and also what sounds like a female voice laughing on the edge of the mix. The sound of the water becomes stronger, then the wind becomes stronger and distorted, but not overpowering. A strange creature makes an echoing noise towards the edge of the mix. Are women laughing or trembling in fear or crying in “desolation”? Only context can provide the answer, as it’s indiscernible. The ambience turns into a short, repeating melody, there is a clinking of metal, and then the track ends.
“Level 04 – Revelation” starts out with a string-like ambience, then something even more string-like plays two notes. But some kind of wind-like distortion covers it, as a rhythm comes in and plays insistently between the background and foreground. What could be voices hover like spirits over the mix and a hint of something synthetic plays to the rhythm ever so subtly, as the string-like instrument drones in the background, distorted by the voice-like sounds. Then the rhythm drops out, leaving only the strings and indiscernible ambience.
Water and wind are both elements that come into the mix in “Level 05 – Redirection”. Both voice and string, and what sounds like the not-harshly broken sound of a guitar hover about with whispering voices. Instruments attempt to play discernible melodies, but they become difficult to hear in the mix of sounds, which are indistinct yet probably intentionally so. Then, the voice becomes prominent as the song fades out.
The sixth track, “Level 06 – Incursion” starts out with a fairly complex ambience made of voice and some sounds put through ton of delay and reverb. The sound that has been treated as such continues for some time with the randomly pulsing ambience behind it. Then, the ambience threatens to overcome the sound as it becomes more pronounced and harsher, and it does so, as the sound treated with delay and reverb has a lot of distortion applied to it, and it becomes indiscernible. This harshly distorted sound fades out, leaving a futuristic sounding ambience with three beeps that repeat until the track ends.
“Level 07 – Premonition” starts out with the patter of rain and a voice saying nothing recognizable as it is distorted beyond understanding. The rain continues, and the beeping from the previous track is recognizable in the background, which is made up of a sad-sounding ambience. Then a slightly distorted bass drum rhythm comes and plays, but the music does not seem to follow it. A high pitched two note melody–slightly muted—plays in the mix. Then the rhythm and the two note melody fade out, leaving the ambience, and the song fades out.
The next track, “Level 08 – Retaliation” starts out with an obscure, almost voice-like, almost wind-like sound which seems like its being played on a keyboard. Vague voices say something in a loop in the background. Then a forlorn, three note ambience starts up and rhythmic beats start playing in the background, occasionally overlaid by a distorted voice. A cymbal is hit, and the beats stop, leaving only the distorted voice.
“Level 09 – Conjuration” starts out with a bona-fide melody which fades into an ambience, and then what sounds like a wooden gate being opened or the lifting of a drawbridge is repeated, and synthetic beats that nonetheless do not sound out of place slowly fade in as the ambience permeates everything, and a distorted voice comes and overpowers the mix, and the album is over.
