So, lets say you are one of the picky bastards that thought Opeth’s Watershed was too soft or too progressive, and wish bands like Dark Suns, Orakel, The Morningside, Farmakon, Adytum and such were even more like Opeth, just go ahead and grab the superb debut from Sweden’s, very, very talented newcomers In Mourning.
While Opeth worship is a broad stroke to give you some idea of the band’s sound (just listen to opener “The Shrouded Divine”), bear in mind this act started as a more Goth/death/doom based act and thusly the debut album has some strains of despondent Fin-doom (Insomnium, Swallow the Sun , etc), especially in the deep roar of Tobias Netzell, and Katatonia, amid the progressive, light dark textures of the early Opeth influenced hues.
Either way, Shrouded Divine is the album that Opeth fans have wanted since Still Life; its darkly beautiful and rending, full of somber textures and layered arrangements, but retains a level of aggression and tempo that never veers into full on progressive clean pastures that Opeth now seem to prefer, keeping Shrouded Divine fully in the realms of death/doom metal. Sure, there are some clean vocals and acoustic passages (i.e.”The Shrouded Divine”, “By Others Considered”) scattered around the album, but they are in the minority, never overwhelming, and sandwiched between lengthy segues of progressive, but stern and staggering death/doom metal of a very high quality (i.e. “Amnesia”, “Grand Denial”, “October Skies”).
The album is pretty much one long exquisite standout, without a single weak moment but “Black Lodge” and “By Others Considered” elevate themselves with a sublime mix of the band’s introspective atmospheres and the expertly rendered doom/death stylings. Throw in a punchy production from Jonas Kjellgren (Centinex, Scar Symmetry, Carnal Forge, The Absence, Sonic Syndicate), and all the elements are in place for an absolutely must have, top notch album that will satiate not only fans of elegantly brilliant music, but fans wishing Opeth had never developed into their current sound.
On a side note, this album came in a nifty little digipack contraption, that actually pushed the CD out when you opened it. Pretty cool.
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on Jul 29th, 2008 at 10:08Thank you for reviewing this Erik! This band was being slobbered over by most of the folks on the Inner Circle forum I frequent earlier this year – I remember checking out their myspace and considerably liking what I heard – I must investigate further.
on Jul 29th, 2008 at 20:33Wasnt really that impressed with the clean vocals on the first couple songs, but they grew on me as the album went on. Still love this album though, and “The Black Lodge” is one of the best songs i’ve heard in a long time. Has more of a melodic death/doom (Insomnium) vibe to me than the Opeth feel. Great review though.
on Jul 30th, 2008 at 04:40really enjoying this, thanks for the heads up.
at first the Opeth imitation was really distracting but I hear a lot of Rapture in here too. now that I’ve given it a number of spins I hear their own sound coming through as well.
only headscratcher is the bright, summy triumphant riffs on In the Failing Hour.
on Aug 1st, 2008 at 15:47Listened to it again and really did hear the Opeth feel. Must be that the Insomnium, Rapture styled parts stuck with me most.
on Aug 5th, 2008 at 10:24Great review, I quite like this release.
I ‘m also hearing some Novembre influences, mainly in the acoustic passages.
on Aug 6th, 2008 at 08:58I here some Edge of Sanity hidden there too.
on Aug 26th, 2008 at 07:25Cool band, cool album, cool and accurate review that makes me want and relisten to it.
on Oct 5th, 2008 at 04:54