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Lord Vigo is a band that is a little hard to pin down, something I’m sure is intentional. I give bands credit for trying new things but, at the end of the day, all that matters is if it works. I quite liked their last effort, Danse de noir, with its Blade Runner theme and slightly trippy, slightly electronic take on heavy metal. Their fifth album, We Shall Overcome, is similar and yet different. There’s no overt Blade Runner references but there’s still a bit of sci-fi woven into the lyrics which are broader and more philosophical this time around. There’s an immediacy to Lord Vigo’s songwriting this time, with the bass taking a noticeably forward position in the mix, as are the drums. The keys and guitars are in their usual spots, interweaving back and forth and the vocals have been mixed a little lower, with echo and other effects to give them a faraway sound. I can hear some doom in Lord Vigo’s music but in general it moves along at a decent clip and has an epic vibe but what is also clear is a streak of ‘80s prog rock and even new wave. My favorite track, "Natural Habitat," has the thumping bass and keyboard-driven melodies of Rush, circa Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, etc., and the plaintive singing on "Since the Sun Was Young" sounds a bit like something Big Country might have sung. We Shall Overcome is still heavy (to wit, the title track, "From Our Ashes We Will Rise") and it isn’t a rock album, though that influence is clear to my ears. The experimentation is interesting and even attention grabbing in spots, but in others it feels unfocused. As I said with Danse de noir, this album is also a grower, but even more so and it is a little too out there for my taste. However, if you are in the market for an eclectic mix of Manilla Road, Vestal Claret, mid-80s Rush and a dash of new wave, it is worth checking out.