Review by Saxy S for Imminence - The Reclamation of I (2024)

Imminence return less than a year after The Black with what I would have assumed were the demos or B sides for that record. But, it turns out that this record is, in fact, the re-release and ten year anniversary of the bands debut record from 2014. 

Unfortunately, The Reclamation of I takes two steps forward, then takes one step back. Imminence returned to form on this album when it came to writing infectious hooks and choruses. The way in which the band is able to gracefully pass melody between guitar and vocals is excellent. The choruses are also much more expressive than The Black and Heaven in Hiding.

Notice that I only mentioned the guitar and vocals when it came to melody. The big step back that this record contains is how little of the violin melody is incorporated. Given that this is the bands debut, I can accept that they wanted to stay true to the original article, but this would have been a amazing opportunity to make that record even better. I caught onto Imminence late, but I always thought of Imminence as being a simpler, more accessible version of Ne Obliviscaris; sonically at least. These two bands couldn't be anything else alike, since Imminence play very traditional melody/harmony metalcore, while Ne Oblivscaris are known for intricate contrapuntal performances. But now, with this neglection of this very crucial, and definitive part of the bands sound, Imminence would seem to have become just as formulaic and generic as any other modern metalcore band in 2024. 

In short, the album is fine. The compositions are solid and the vocals are its true selling point. However, if you were expecting this as anything other than a by-the-book replaying of the bands 2014 debut album, you are going to be severely let down, as I was.

Best Songs: Proclaim, Salt of the Earth, Those Who Seek