In Mourning - The Immortal

In Mourning is a progressive death metal band from Sweden, who formed in 2000. 25 years later, they are still going strong. Not only strong but better than ever. My evidence for such a proclamation? This album. That's right: This new full-length album “The Immortal” is their best album since 2010's “Monolith.” 

To be seven albums (and that isn't even mentioning their demos, splits, EPs and live albums) into a 25 year career and still be this good is something to behold.

What makes this album so good? Well, In Mourning has always had a knack for being proggy without actually sounding like it. Through natural dynamics and the variety between albums, the band have proven themselves to be explorers of sound without the pretentious aspects that so often come with such journeys.

In many ways, “The Immortal,” continues that trend. Indeed, each song offers its own identity and, of course, this album doesn't sound like any of their previous ones. 

The album shows the band at a moment in time where they have never been tighter. The runtime is a perfect 47 minutes, finding an easy balance between depth without meandering too much yet offering reasons to return many times. 

Each song is pretty damn catchy too. Tobias offers plenty of vocal styles, continuing to prove his talent is bottomless. His extreme side is convincing and is cleaner, softer side is emotive. 

Longtime members Björn Pettersson and Tim Nedergård bring plenty of tasty riffs to the table but effortlessly slide into atmospheric passages and melodic episodes when needed. Tobias also plays guitar...and they definitely use the triple attack to their advantage. 

New drummer Cornelius Althammer (also in the amazing doom band Ahab) makes his recording appearance with the band…and he fits right at home. His playing keeps the foundation from faltering even as he ebbs and flows with the music.

The album starts with the title track and it's an intro. As far as intros go, it does its job in introducing the first full-length song that it slides right into so seamlessly that it's pretty much a part of it. 

That song is “Silver Crescent,” and its a very immediate track with a lot of energy. It's heavy on the atmosphere, the band showcasing its penchant to mix melancholic melodic death into their repertoire.

The extreme vocals are thunderous, rolling alongside the powerful rhythms but also working towards setting up the beautiful and tragic chorus. 

The later half of the song is fire and fury, the drums pouring down like a torrential rain while the guitars create a rising flood of death metal riffage.

“The Sojourner,” uses liminal spaces in the opening moments while Tobias rages through through the light instrumentation. The density soon pours out with a strong passage before yet another earworm of a chorus rings through. 

The song turns on a dime, pushing the band through like a train barreling through a tunnel. After the chorus hits again, a soulful solo ends it all in a way only this band can.

“Staghorn,” is a banger with a very exciting opening. It is probably the most vicious song on the album, at least in the beginning. 

The band pushes for the climax, resulting in a chorus so moving that its hard to believe it came from the same band that moments ago was ripping up the floor.

The middle portion is riff after riff…absolutely unstoppable. A melodic solo and rolling drums sends the song back into a violent frenzy before letting that goddamn amazing chorus rings out again. One of their best songs. Period.

The album ends with “The Hounding,” and I can easily put this one among their best. I love the sorrow bound opening and the drums that dance around it.

The music grows harrowing for a bit, opening the door for a brutal vocal delivery. This song is thick as hell and twice as heavy. 

But guess what? Yep you already know: another great chorus. Where are they keeping these things? Wow. 

The passage afterwards reminds me of their first two albums, what with the prog riffs that still hammer out the jams.

In Mourning always seems to hit an apex, somehow surpass it only to hit another. “The Immortal” is a defining statement from a band that only makes defining statements. 

Rating: Masterful