January 2026 Featured Release - The Infinite Edition
Hhmmm.... I haven't gotten a chance to check this one out as yet but In Mourning's back catalogue & I have had our moments over the years so I'll likely give this one a few spins at some point.
I also haven't listened to this album yet and will at some point, to get back in touch with their material after some time away.
I've just done my review, here's its summary:
My interest in progressive melodeath has boosted up ever since encountering the perfect discography of An Abstract Illusion. It was a sign for me to revisit some earlier progressive melodeath bands that I enjoyed yet abandoned a few years ago. In Mourning might just be the place for me to start in my journey of redemption, since that was probably the band An Abstract Illusion reminded me the most of. The Immortal may just have the best sound from the band in many years, sounding so sonic and organic. I can already tell how well-written the album is, in big levels. Slight touches of black metal are added to enhance the cold darkness. Throughout these 9 tracks, aggressive power is blended with melodic harmonies. Often there's bright light alongside a blackening blizzard in what you can visualize as a somber night trek in the northern lands. With all that, let's hope their music stays immortal!
4.5/5
I have had a spin of this one this morning and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it if I am honest. Melo-death and prog are not my usual bag and although I don't adore it, I may get round to putting my thoughts into a review if not a rating at the very least.
Despite not being a fan of melodic death metal or progressive metal, here I am writing a review for an album that is tagged as Progressive Melodic Death Metal. My interest in (trying to) check out all the feature releases each month has certainly paid dividends with The Infinite feature release having enjoyed a fair old amount of plays this past week. If I was pressed to sum up why I have enjoyed The Immortal so much, I would call out the rich and full sound that is on display. The album is by no means a perfect, or even complete package, yet it carries enough positive markers as it plays for me to continue to come back to it.
One of the unexpected positives for me are the clean vocals. A fan of the more aggressive style of vocals that occupy the more extreme ends of the metal spectrum, on this occasion the clean vocals work better than the more traditional growls. I have to agree with Saxy in that the harsh vocals are lacking somewhat. The opening track manages to hit this vocal sweet spot early on in the album and as it continues to play it almost becomes a contest between the two styles, with the cleaner elements a clear victor. If I then factor in other moments such as the groovy riff of ‘The Sojourner’ and the post-metal palate-cleanser that follows on ‘Moonless Sky’ as well as the excellent strutting of ‘The Hounding’, I soon have multiple positives to talk to.
I would however like the lead work to have more direction. What often starts off as luscious sounding injections of melody, never quite seem to expand into any established endpoints. This sense of going nowhere is frustrating, notwithstanding that there is plenty of melody still over the album as a whole. I do feel however that the standout moments as a result are limited and that more interesting lead work, as well as perhaps less harsh vocals would have helped here.
4/5