Anthrosphere, the human habitat (or is it Anthroposphere?), the human state of affairs, where man's glories are found, as well as his downfall... _Anthrosphere Vol.1_ is a glimpse into the state of affairs in relation to these relatively newcomers Anthropic Records' myriad roster of bands, a label that offers a variety of heavy musical approaches, from black and death metal to atmospheric and instrumental post hardcore of sorts.

By no means is _Anthrosphere Volume 1_ the most insipid of compilations, as it offers some quite refreshing and progressive musical entities heavily loaded with potential. This label could surely pick some interesting outfits, bands whose common factor is a will to transcend beyond and above your regular tried-out and sour musical dish. None of the bands on this compilation are orthodox by ways of musicianship or style: Sil Veth offer their own take on progressive black metal; Lethean lay down their progressive death metal etiquette; The Green Evening Requiem offer their hardcore punk vs. vitriolic thrash metal amalgam; Woe go for the more tried-out and familiar melodic black metal typical for the mid '90s; while Monolith and Bereavement are definitely this recording's highlights.

Monolith play a mesmerizing brand of atmospheric post-metal, instrumental yet engaging, powerful and beautiful; while Bereavement offer a more motley approach to their metal, mixing melodic black and death metal, progressive rock elements and some tranquil passages in the Agalloch / Opeth tradition, resulting in an interesting track, to say the least.

Anyone who still remembers the very first compilation album released by the (then) still very young label The End Records would be able to reminisce, listening to this potentially charged various artists album, and may find it enjoyable. _Anthrosphere Volume 1_ is by no means a groundbreaking release, but interesting enough to give it a try.