Review Summary: Dedication to craftsmanship.
"Progressive" music, and especially "progressive metal" has become somewhat of a grey area in the 2010s. What was once a genre dominated only by those who could perform outside of the norm and marry differentiating styles with adroit gall, has now delved deep into broken noodling and mindless riffery. The throne of solid song structure and clever pacing has been subjected to violent upheaval due to a new wave of chug-fests and surgical production values. Yet, the popularity of crowd-prog has made it all the more clear just which bands carry the roots of old school progression, and In Mourning's
Afterglow wields the flag boldly. This isn't a strictly progressive release, but it is a gorgeous reminder of what progressive metal was, and where it could be.
If there is one thing
Afterglow does better than any other melodic death metal or progressive metal record released in the past couple of years, it is enforce the power of an intriguing, yet rooted chord progression. Opener "Fire and Ocean" focuses almost purely on creating an expansive sound, rather than running riffs like an open tap. It was an unexpectedly shocking revelation, but by allowing for songs to progress musically before dropping in addictive riffs and rapid solos, these extra elements then become considerably more memorable. After wave upon wave of gorgeously aggressive, full-bodied strumming and ethereal leads, the chromatically descending flurry of a riff in "The Grinning Mist" hits like a rampant wave. Mesmerising, clean structure is the lure: riffs are hit-and-runs, and the daze left by their powerful brevity is more than enough to make the replay button all the more enticing.
The mix of progressive metal and melodic death metal in
Afterglow is beautifully balanced. Every track is peppered with infectious leads. The underlying rhythm work is constantly pushing forward with steady, intentional force while still allowing headway for interesting time signature changes. Every change in direction is carried out with silky smooth transition, and there were multiple times a song would have altered completely in motion without me noticing until a repeated play. The exemplar title track displays every musician at their most studious; instruments steadily fire away without once compromising song identity for showmanship. It's a deliberate effort, and while technical proficiency isn't a forefront ideal, the precise placement of each and every musical decision leaves for some breathtaking crescendos.
Dedication to craftsmanship isn't a desirable trait in the eyes of the current-day, progressive musician. Dedication to scales, sweeps, blasts, tones, riffs, and individual components are all wildly important assets to any metal arsenal, but the wider scope that In Mourning view musicality at within their respected genres is a widely abandoned point of view. The impressive level of restraint at show here creates open goals; exhilarating heights feel earned. Yet above all else, above every melodic lick, every emphatic chord, every mountainous peak,
Afterglow stands tall as a structurally sound edifice. Every brick contributes to its imposing majesty; the powerful foundations below rise to the above.
