The phenomenal fourth album Cheat The Gallows saw L.A.. rockers BIGELF being catapulted out of the underground scene up to the Prog Rock Olympus with hyper speed. Prestigious arena tours in the US and Europe followed, supporting Dream Theater and Opeth among others. BIGELF truly was on the verge of a breakthrough. Instead the band literally imploded and got eventually disbanded in 2010.
But Damon Fox could not give up on the band. Incited and inspired by ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy Damon Fox started writing and recording new songs, all on his own. And here we are: 2014 sees BIGELF rising like phoenix from the ashes. With a new line-up (Mike Portnoy, Luis Maldonado and Duffy Snowhill) and a new album BIGELF pick up the thread where Cheat The Gallows was left off and reach out for the stars again.
Into The Maelstrom (its title can be taken literally) got generally shaped with the same formula as the predecessor. Even arrangements and dramaturgy are familiar. BIGELF still play strongly 60s and 70s rooted progressive psychedelic Rock, keeping up the wild mix of styles, influences, sounds and instruments. Especially David Bowie and Pink Floyd have left its impact, but also the Beatles, T-Rex and Black Sabbath; even Magma left its traces. Into The Maelstrom is Fox’ Space Oddity, sometimes close to the originals yet never a copy or derivative.
Into The Maelstrom is like an explosion of senses, absolutely crazy, epic, apocalyptic, spacy and sometimes quite eccentric. Into The Maelstrom is like a roller coaster of rapidly changing rhythms, breaks, and surprising twists and turns.
And though, this album differs as it turns out to be more melancholic and harsher at the same time. The production is gruffer, guitars and bass heavier. You can feel the pain of the last years behind songs and music Damon Fox is reflecting on. 
Into The Maelstrom is an impressing comeback album. It is surely not as groundbreaking as its predecessor - Into The Maelstrom is more subtle, needs time to develop and unfold - but once it has happened you will not stop listening.