Mercenary - Through Our Darkest Days (2013)^{Release ID: 8309}

Mercenary's 7th album Through Our Darkest Days is another continuation of the band's grand melodeath sound with power metal elements. Apart from the more modern influences the band has been adding since Metamorphosis that seems to reduce a bit of the quality, not much changed. The melodeath riffing has a power metal tone without any of the brutality of their debut First Breath. The heaviness comes from the fast thrash that make the best contrast with the epic melody. More of the addictive melody comes from the superb keyboards of atmospheric majesty that can almost turn their power metal influences into symphonic power metal. And it's fun hearing the melody appearing in both the guitars and keyboards because of how well melodeath bands from other Northern European countries use that aspect. However, unlike those bands that focus mainly on death growls, the band adds in clean singing in perfect balance with the growls, at the cost of bit of the aggression.

Through Our Darkest Days is not their best album but not a bad one either. Their style has a lot of potential, but how they've been using it lately might cause minor damage to what makes them spectacular. Although most of the songs are strong and energetic, the idea of modernizing their power metal-ish melodeath can stir up some conflict in their attempt on staying cohesive. With great strength comes great responsibility, and some differences can be pop up noticeably as the album goes on. The grand epic atmosphere can actually be found in later songs and flows easier than the first few. No matter which songs have better flow, this album shall mark another adventurous addition to their long tremendous career...

Opening track "A New Dawn" charges through with catchy yet heavy groove/thrash riffing and beautiful atmosphere. However, the clean vocals in the verses sound a bit robotic and out of place. Don't worry though, the cleans will sound better later. "Welcome the Sickness" welcomes you to the heavier death growls and blast beats, mixed perfectly with clean singing and riffs of epic atmosphere, ending with wonderful soloing. The title track has more melodic riffing to take you on a melodeath/power metal adventure. With that effective cleans/growls blend, we have another strong highlight.

"Dreamstate Machine" lightens things up with some more of the clean riffing atmosphere. The more brutal riffing and growling is only used for the verses. Similarly, "A Moment of Clarity" is kind of a clean groove track that relaxes on most of the heavy energy while having atmospheric soloing. The album's consistent side kicks in with "Beyond This Night", though the mid-paced melody and atmospheric riffing isn't that great and can't keep up with the strength of later tracks.

The highlight "Starving Eyes" soars through with clean singing and keyboards, as the melodic riffing gives the song the epic power it needs. One of my favorite songs here! "Generation Hate" charges through with a devastating deathly intro complete with bass and drums pummeling through. Despite being cut short for the power metal-ish chorus, that chorus soars along for a solid blend of cleans, riffs, and keyboards. "Forever the Unknown" closes the album as a long epic with the best keyboard atmosphere and riffing as an adventurous end to this great experience. The bonus track "Holding On to Serenity" is OK, though sounding close to early Shadows Fall.

7 albums in and the band is still standing strong. This album may not be their best one, but there are still some memorable songs to enjoy that help them continue this style that not many bands still have today. The power metal elements from the keyboards and cleans help the sound stand out in strong glory with their melodeath side that has all the vicious riffs and growls. Though the more modernized sound cause a bit of an issue, with the lighter moments not shining well. The more deathly metalheads might has some trouble getting the appeal when it comes to the sound going from one place to the other. Nonetheless, if you're up for adventure packed with more melody than brutality, you've come to the right place. Even the darkest days have some light....

Favorites: "Welcome the Sickness", "Through Our Darkest Days", "Dreamstate Machine", "Starving Eyes", "Forever the Unknown"