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This year has been a constant ride from one masterpiece to another with surprises lurking around every corner, but few have caused such mass obsession as Imminence's promotional cycle for their upcoming fourth studio record Heaven In Hiding. Further backed by Arising Empire's rapid rise to fame, this is undoubtedly one of the highest peaks of 2021, and if there was ever an album worth being described as "hauntingly beautiful", we have it here.
Go on any of their social channels and posts, and you will be greated by the message "From Sweden with love", and this is the precisely the essence of this record - warm, passionate and heartfell emotions radiating from its otherwise frozen Scandinavian heart, and welcoming you into a mystical world of grand melodies and crushing modern metalcore. Add in stunning video storytelling starting with the leading single 'Temptation' and we are left with a contemporary audio-visual experience unlike any other in many years.
Despite forming in 2009, Imminence really shifted into gear upon signing with Arising Empire for their sophomore This Is Goodbye (2017), but still remained somewhat quiet until now. They started as a promising Architects-inspired metalcore act, slowly expanding their sound to include classical elements, Scandinavian melodeath traditions and subtle electronic nuances, but even their otherwise great previous LP Turn The Lights On (2019) was missing that extra something to really push them onto the global stage.
Entering the metalcore scene in the 2010s was certainly a double-edged sword, considering the genre was collapsing under the weight of its exhaustion and saturation, but the last few years have seen an upheaval of fresh talent leading its reinvigorated modern version into an exciting new chapter. Looking at its European division, Imminence are definitely one of the brightest outfits, firmly waving the Swedish flag on route to the top. Already in their fourth record, Heaven In Hiding might have just delivered the spark that was missing so far.
Imminence's real power extends beyond their talent and musicianship, and towards who they are as creators of such aethereal and emotive art without compromising its heavy, uncontainable core. The full focus is obviously on frontman Eddie Berg's natural charisma, vocal range and violin mastery, but the credit is shared with the fittingly imaginative work by Barret, Arnoldsson, Höijer and Hanström. Together, they not only break stereotypes with flair, but truly embrace the iconic "From Sweden with love" in their music and personalities.
Classical music and violins in particular are hardly a novelty in metal music, considering decades of orchestral influences and experimentations, not to mention bands like Apocalyptica and many others. Even in metalcore this has been done over and over, and somehow Imminence manage to make it sound fresh and captivating throughout the entire Heaven in Hiding, balancing just the right ammount of fury and beauty from start to finish.
Every single track adds another element to the masterpiece that is this album: the galooping rhythm in 'Ghost', the epic choruses in 'Temptation' and 'Disappear', the chilling banshee scream in 'Chasing Shadows', the gentle piano in 'Moth to a Flame', the thunderous breakdowns in 'Surrender' and 'Enslaved', the passionate vocals in 'Alleviate', the violin lead in 'Lost and Left Behind', the heavenly instrumental in '∞', the otherwordly 'این نیز بگذرد'.
Although boasting several fantastic standalone singles, the album truly is a journey that needs to be experienced in its intended order and entirety. From the eerie tones of the pulsating intro 'I Am Become a Name...' all the way to the bonechilling growl at the end of its final title track, Heaven in Hiding reveals a vast array of surprising nuances to be discover upon each consecutive listen, and I just have to mention the stunning 'این نیز بگذرد' again...
All in all, Heaven in Hiding is simply Imminence at their most creative and passionate form. While the overall instrumentation and production can easily be compared to their previous two releases, this time the dominant atmosphere, passionate performance and deep emotions are unrivalled. A true song of ice and fire, Heaven in Hiding is a faultless blend of artistic expression, modern metalcore fury and Scandinavian sensibility unlike any other before.
Imminence - Heaven In Hiding
Country: Sweden
Released: 26 November 2021
Label: Arising Empire
Tracklisting:
01. "I am become a name..."
02. "Ghost"
03. "Temptation"
04. "Surrender"
05. "Chasing Shadows"
06. "Moth To a Flame"
07. "Alleviate"
08. "Enslaved"
09. "Disappear"
10. "Lost and Left Behind" / 11. "این نیز بگذرد"
12. "∞"
13. "Heaven in Hiding"
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