Imminence
Axis Mundi
Sumerian Records
An overview of Imminence’s recorded output reveals a clear direction of travel, the Swedish band attacking the future like marauding Vikings. However, their sixth long player finds them exploring some deep roots, the kind that stretch back centuries. That’s not to say Axis Mundi is regressive, far from it, the band harnessing what’s come before as wind for their sails. It means they bring all their experience to bear on opening track ‘Twisting In The Wind’, an insidious number that adds layers of sound, almost imperceptibly, slowly ingratiating itself into the listener’s psyche. That Imminence form such a strong bond is unsurprising; not only are songs such as ‘Devil May Try’ heavy musically, they also carry an emotional weight, the bottomless depth of ‘Leviathan’ finds the band stripping away bone and flesh until exposed is a vulnerable, beating heart. The style of metalcore that Imminence ply gives them an enormous amount of freedom; it feels as if nothing is off bounds, borrowing from genres diverse as pop and electronica, then shaping them in their own form. The result is Axis Mundi, an album that delves deep into Imminence’s past and signposts a bright future.
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Review by Peter Dennis.