Against I - Songs For The Dying

Against I is a Swedish melodic death metal band, who formed in 2022.  Their latest album, "Songs For The Dying," is their second full-length album; they have also released four EPs.

Sweden isn’t a stranger to melodic death metal, having given birth to it decades ago.  Over the long years, the scene has come and gone through a lot of sounds.   Ranging from the classic Gothenburg sound to more aggressive avenues (and everything in between), the country has been pumping out melodic and melancholic jams so consistently that you would be forgiven for rolling your eyes at yet another melodic death metal band trying to get their name out there. 

Don’t roll them too far or you’ll miss Against I, whose “Songs For The Dying,” shows a lot of promise for this still young band.  What the album lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in energy and composition.

Against I play a very modern version of melodic death; the influences from the old-school days are there of course but the band isn’t afraid to inject other styles into the sound.  Thrash elements and a ton of groove can be found among the 11 track, 43 minute runtime, and it certainly helps spread out their vision and reduces monotony.  

The guitars tend to be atmospheric as well, focusing on as much mood sitting as they do thrashy grooves.  But it all sounds cohesive and flows pretty damn well.  I don’t think 43 minutes is too long of a runtime for this style but it goes by a lot faster, which is never a band thing and a testament to the songwriting contained within. 

Production/mix is about what one would expect for this genre; it sounds fresh, loud and clear but could definitely use more of a low end presence for some added heft.  

The album opens with “Bound In Blood,” and it immediately jumps to what the album does best: quickly ramping up the energy and diving head first into the song.  Before the 30 second mark even passes, the band is firing on all cylinders and settling into a steady groove.  I like the vocals a lot; mostly the vocals are death screams a la At The Gates but deep growls are used as well.  Regardless, the vocals are just potent enough without overtaking the melody. 

Supposedly, this band used to be more industrial leaning; I haven’t had time to check out their previous releases so I can’t comment but “A Hymn For The End,” does have light usage of those elements.  The opening riffs are fast and rumbling, a neo-groove approach that reminds me much of 00’s metalcore, which is never a bad thing.  The slower parts, highlighted by the tight drums, inject a melancholic atmosphere to the song which also adds to its urgency. 

The guitar opens “Eternal Slumber” with a catchy lead before the riffs begin to hammer it down, alternating between speedy attacks and crunchy rhythms that keep the song open to embrace the subtle usage of keys. The last half of the song finds the guitar taking an interesting return to their melodic tinges before ending the song on a furious note as it fades out to ethereal keys.

“Father of Lies,” is one of my favorite songs on the album, it’s riffs finding a catchy balance between groove and more expansive avenues.  The band turns on a dime, heading into a thrash passage with hammering riffs and drums. The bass gets time to shine, peeking out from the spaces in between the band's audible assault. 

Another banger is “Praise The Dead,” which is loaded with sinister guitar tones and surprisingly thick riffs.  Musically, the song thrives on these grooves but the keys highlight the song perfectly, once again, keeping the energy high.  Around the 2:47 mark, the band embraces death metal for one of the best moments on the album: grinding riffs, deep growls, and destructive drumming.

The final song, “The Blackest Night,” is absolutely fantastic.  It’s immediate, catchy, and has a really cool vibe to it that just grabbed me from the get go. The guitars are at their most melodic on this song, contrasting with the vocals yet making it work.  There is a certain tragedy to this song, the air of despondency that makes it sound out from the rest.  

Against I’s “Songs For The Dying” is a solid representation of melodic death metal from a band that manages to balance modern sensibilities with the roots of the genre.