Of all the melodic death metal bands that live in the eternal shadow of gloom, the only act I consistently return to is In Mourning. For one reason or another, this band’s particular blend of crooning introspection and deceptive heft resonates with me. From the inimitable Monolith to the career resurgence of Garden of Storms, the Swedes kicked out quality melodic death metal, slowly but smoothly integrating bits of black metal and post metal into their formula as they matured. In 2021, sixth installment The Bleeding Veil ushers in a new hot streak for the group, proving beyond a doubt that In Mourning are consummate professionals unwilling to release poor product.
In comparison to Garden of Storms, The Bleeding Veil constitutes an evolution of sound more so than a revolution. For album six, In Mourning focused all of their energies on making damn sure their output flows like a gentle creek while still hammering hulls like a whitewater rapid. To that end, they refined their trademark style, splicing syncopated chugs with bright and layered chords, mournful lead guitars with shimmering tremolos, and full-bodied roars with hardcore wails and gentle cleans. Despite the quantity of moving parts in play, The Bleeding Veil impeccably balances its constituent elements such that each makes meaningful contributions to the whole. Top its detailed and deliberate songwriting with what sounds to me like a warm and full mix,1 and you receive an album that strikes with intent and clarity, while offering depth to discover in time.
The Bleeding Veil holds nothing back. This truth shines brightest in late album highlight “Blood in the Furrows,” one of the finest examples of this group’s capabilities fully realized. While undoubtedly dour, there’s a distinct air of bittersweet triumph glowing outwards from the gorgeous leads and compelling verses as the song froths into an emotional, yet immolating firestorm. From there it embers into a bluesy moment of solemn introspection, embellished by a lilting solo brimming with tearful warmth. It’s a deceivingly complex composition but it strikes the heart with devastating impact. Closer “Beyond Thunder” similarly cracks the sky with its tug of war between some of the band’s most intimate soft passages to date and undoubtedly aggressive riffs. Power couple “Sovereign” and “At the Behest of Night” further showcase In Mourning‘s undeniable thoughtfulness in songwriting, offering the kind of dynamics and subtle detailing which allow the two to establish the band’s signature sound while simultaneously offering something fresh and elevated.
As a whole, The Bleeding Veil glides effortlessly from beginning to end. Four minutes tighter than Garden of Storms and more evenly motivated, In Mourning‘s sixth is perhaps the easiest album in their discography to enjoy in a single sitting, and just as easy to replay. The clean vocals are more consistent and compelling in execution, the hardcore screams situate themselves more comfortably within the soundstage, and transitions between songs and segments more reliably generate momentum rather than sapping energy from the material. There are but a few weak points, such as a few somewhat lackluster riffs in “Solitude and Silence” and “At the Behest of Night,” or the slightly bloated instrumental jams in “Thornwalker” and “Lights on the Mire.” As an additional nitpick, I’ve never been and might never be a fan of these hardcore vox, which I find unappealing at face value. One last detractor worth mentioning is that the cymbals (especially in “At the Behest of Night”) sound buried, thereby flattening certain percussive adornments that would otherwise add bite.2
When deliberating on my final scoring of The Bleeding Veil, I struggled. It’s quite obviously their best effort since Monolith, which is exciting in its own right. It’s also miles beyond what the rest of the moody melodeath field offered me this year. But I wondered whether I could spend enough time with it to be sure of my assessment’s validity in the long run. At some point, I came to a realization that such worries mean next to nothing in the face of what this band accomplished. The fact is that In Mourning showed up to push their limits, refine their craft, and clear their high water marks, all of which are tall orders. With this in mind, I declare The Bleeding Veil an unqualified success, surpassing damn near everything that came before it and setting the bar ever higher for the Swedish powerhouse.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: Stream3
Label: Dalapop
Website: facebook.com/inmourningband
Releases Worldwide: November 26th, 2021
