In Mouring – The Immortal

Metalcatto

Saying that I was excited about In Mourning’s The Immortal would be an understatement. I’m old school; I’ve been a fan since Monolith and Shrouded Divine. Everything after that has been the highest level of MeloProg consistency ever seen in that niche. If anything, the band could easily top a list of the most underrated acts in Metal. However, with every great release, the risk of the next one being a flop increases. The Bleeding Veil was outstanding, but can the band keep up with this ridiculous run? Let’s find out!

I’ll say it right from the start: In Mourning still has the power and creativity it’s always had. The Immortal shows an almost flawless balance between Opeth-like brutality and Katatonia-like melancholy. Yet, at this point, the band has little to do with those two. It has carved its own identity after decades of perfecting something that was already excellent. The band shows such confidence and understanding of tension, release, transitions, riffing. It’s a masterclass in Prog Death, but also in MeloDeath.

The songwriting is mostly what made me throw my underwear around, but that guitar tone and diverse vocals—ranging from sorrowful singing, dry growling, and even furious shrieking—add textures and depth to a complex journey that never ceases to sound accessible. Yes, it sounds pretty, but it also pierces a hole through your soul. If Garden of Storms was awesome but maybe a bit too sensitive for you, then Immortal is the more experienced version of what that album offered. It’s as if Be’lakor went full Prog—and how can that be wrong in any way?

So, what are my whiny and nitpicking comments? Well, aside from this not being those old albums I grew up with (obnoxious talk, I know), do we really need the intro track? It’s so small and quick in comparison with everything else. Also, the middle section of the album has to compete with the excellent opening and ending, which is a difficult task. The slower tracks are just outshined by how bombastic the heavier ones are. Still, this is ridiculous complaining—but that’s what you guys are looking for. Something to hate, right? I never said it’d be logical!

In Mourning was once a band that felt like it was mimicking bigger acts. It was great at combining things others had done before. Little did I know that now, with bands like In Vain and An Abstract Illusion, it would become a proper pioneer in the MeloProg (yes, I just made it up) subgenre with next to no competitors. You can count on one hand the bands that have perfected this craft. At this point, In Mourning’s work is so consistent that it feels like it can’t die.

Label: Supreme Chaos Records

Release date: August 29, 2025

Website: https://inmourning.bandcamp.com/

Country: Sweden

Score: 4.2/5.0