Review by Daniel for In Vain (NOR) - Mantra (2010)

This band seems to have an identity crisis. I'm not really sure what they're trying to do here. The tracks are all over the place. There are some decent moments (like the post-metal sections in "Sombre Fall, Burdened Winter") but they are soon cancelled out by rubbish like closer "Wayphearing Stranger" which is pure country & western. There is no just consistency here. The black metal vocals are terribly weak too. Is it seriously possible to make "Wayakin" any worse than it is? Possibly the worst track of 2010! I have no idea why this release doesn't get slammed more often.