In Mourning - The Weight Of Oceans
Spinefarm Records
Melodic Death Metal
9 songs (1:01:10)
Release year: 2012
In Mourning, Spinefarm Records
Reviewed by Goat

I was very impressed with these Swedish prog death metallers' 2010 effort Monolith, and have been keeping half an eye out ever since for a follow-up that built on that album's considerable strengths - and have not been let down! Certainly, those mourning the loss of death metal Opeth will find some solace here, although In Mourning are very much their own band. Don't mistake this for some Soilwork clone based on the genre tag, whatever you do; really, this is as much melodic doom as it is melodic death, and by straddling genre divides like this the band make a varied yet compelling album. The five-piece (three guitarists) have tinges of Swallow The Sun, if they were in the process of turning into a progressive metal band, and if that hasn't caught the interest of a melodeath fan then I don't know what will!

Opener Colossus begins with catchy bass twangs and melodic meanderings before building into a doom-touched mid-paced death metal that isn't afraid to spend time exploring the guitarists' skills with plenty of leadwork. The following A Vow To Conquer The Ocean ups the tempo, starting in more typical, almost Dark Tranquillity style, before changing about the middle for a slowed progressive metal section, that takes in everything from Deliverance-esque chugging to melodic doom howls. In terms of songwriting the band are quite excellent, drawing you in with a well-crafted and rarely repeated hook and keeping your attention with their skilled musicianship and ability to create the sort of melancholic atmosphere that the best can. In Mourning certainly live up to their name, moving between anger and calm - compare and contrast the furious From A Tidal Sleep and the rather lovely Celestial Tear, which starts almost like Porcupine Tree and moves onwards to challenge Katatonia in the 'misery rock' market.

Yet this is far from rock, as rocking as it can be - check out the perfectly-placed syncopated riffing in the centre of Convergence, a break from the compelling melodies surrounding it. Piano interlude Sirens is quite beautiful, and heralds the blastbeat-opening Isle Of Solace, equally beautiful in a very different way with its catchy riffs. Yet it's not until The Drowning Sun that you see the band at their best, moving into quite epic territory as the track storms the melodic death heights. The ultimate compliment for In Mourning is that despite their songs varying from four to nine minutes long (generally closer to the latter) you don't notice, as the time is always filled perfectly. And by the time the closing Voyage Of A Wavering Mind rolls around with its groovy weight, you'll be left with two feelings: the satisfaction that comes from hearing a good album that exercises your mind and neck, and the desire to hear it again.

Killing Songs :
Colossus, A Vow To Conquer The Ocean, Celestial Tear, The Drowning Sun
Goat quoted 87 / 100
Milan quoted 86 / 100
Other albums by In Mourning that we have reviewed:
In Mourning - Garden of Storms reviewed by Alex and quoted 88 / 100
In Mourning - Afterglow reviewed by Andy and quoted 88 / 100
In Mourning - Monolith reviewed by Goat and quoted 85 / 100
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