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MONOLITH

In Mourning

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal


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In Mourning Monolith album cover
3.79 | 46 ratings | 5 reviews | 35% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2010

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. For You to Know (6:15)
2. Debris (7:34)
3. The Poet and the Painter of Souls (5:40)
4. The Smoke (8:15)
5. A Shade of Plague (4:10)
6. With You Came Silence (6:10)
7. Pale Eye Revelation (6:17)
8. The Final Solution (Entering the Black Lodge) (12:52)

Total Time 57:13

Line-up / Musicians

- Tobias Netzell / vocals, guitar
- Björn Pettersson / guitar
- Tim Nedergård / guitar
- Pierre Stam / bass
- Christian Netzell / drums

With:
- Jonas Kjellgren / guitar solo (4), production & mixing

Releases information

Artwork: Travis Smith

CD Pulverised Records ‎- ASH 068 CD (2010, Singapore)
LP Pulverised Records ‎- ASH 068 Vinyl (2010, Singapore)

Reissued by Agonia Records, July 24th 2020, in multiple formats

Thanks to burritounit for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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IN MOURNING Monolith ratings distribution


3.79
(46 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(35%)
35%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(46%)
46%
Good, but non-essential (13%)
13%
Collectors/fans only (4%)
4%
Poor. Only for completionists (2%)
2%

IN MOURNING Monolith reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Marty McFly
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars I sometimes wonder what's happening with Death Metal these days (yes, I call this Death Metal). Either I'm becoming more tolerant, or this music is getting softer and more melodic. In general speaking, it is hard rough, but let's be honest. You can find perfection in tyranny, as well as in beauty (beauty is more prominent). However, being rough, being not optimistic is not a crime, same as being optimistic is (hey you, haters of Moon Safari). Strange thing is that even most of my music works in my speakers, this one wasn't so successful (but as I said, most of music works [for me]), but this one is killing, striking greatness (yes, this word exist, hooray). For example Mannefall is metaphoric audioalization of simple act that every one of us must do from time to time. To catch your breath guys, that's it. Next round of melodic Tech Metal it is (so it's not plane, nor bird, it's Metal). I like this kind of "weaker" Tech Metal. Because it's not so "Extreme" (pun intended).

4(+), believe it or not, but you should believe, if you consider yourselves as "believer".

Review by Conor Fynes
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars 'Monolith' - In Mourning (6/10)

Having only recently come to my attention, I had heard good things about this Swedish melodic death metal act before checking it out. Being described by some as 'one of the best metal albums of 2010,' I took it upon myself to give In Mourning's 'Monolith' a listen for myself to decide whether these claims were founded or not. As it turns out, this young band is certainly impressive in their own right. Taking the signature melodic metal sound of their home country (also called the 'Göteborg' sound), In Mourning makes a solid first impression. However, the route the band takes has been done to death already, and with legions of acts having already covered the same territory before, it might be difficult for this talented act to make a lasting stand.

From the first listen of the opening track, I instantly related the music of In Mourning to compatriot acts Dark Tranquility, Opeth, and In Flames, among others. A very polished sound, plenty of heavy melodic guitar work, growls and then a soaring, catchy chorus all tie this band together with the more experienced and travelled acts. The album starts off in a vein that is very typical of melodic death metal, but also very skilled and enjoyable. Throughout the first few tracks, there is solid song structure, choral hooks and occasional curveballs, such as an acoustic breakdown here and there. Towards the latter part of the album however, there is a very noticable (possibly intentional), gradual change of sound. While the beginning of the album took an upbeat and hard hitting approach to the music, things start sounding more like doom metal than anything as 'Monolith' nears it's closing. With heavy anthems like 'The Poet & The Painter Of Souls' and the funeral doom epic 'The Final Solution' sharing the same disc, 'Monolith' can feel at times like two separate works. However, the change of the sound from upbeat to depressive and forlorn makes for an interesting emotional journey.

While certainly not being the most original act I've come across, one thing In Mourning does very well, is the actual presentation and execution of their music. In a crystal clean vessel of production, it becomes all the more important for the musicians to give a very deliberate and purposeful execution. The members of In Mourning accomplish this by delivering a nearly flawless performance of their work. Tobias Netzell gives a good range of vocal work here running from growls to vulnerable clean vocals, although the majority of the vocal work here generally rests on low pitched grunts, typical of the genre.

In Mourning have established themselves as a talented act with 'Monolith.' There is a great performance, some decent songwriting ability and a competent package. The band wears their influences on their sleeve, but rarely succeeds at surpassing the giants of the style.

Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
4 stars Originally released in 2010, In Mourning's second album saw them firmly take on the mantle of melodic death metal with some progressive undertones, looking to the likes of countrymen Opeth for inspiration. Although originally released on vinyl and CD, those formats have long been out of print, so to celebrate the tenth anniversary last year, the band worked with Agonia Records to make it again available on CD, along with a few different vinyl options. The line-up at this time had been together for three years, with three founder members still involved from 10 years earlier, and it was their second album together, so it is of little surprise that they were incredibly tight.

One of the real joys of this album is how they can go from death metal to delicate melodic interludes within the same song, yet somehow managing to keep all of it making sense so it feels part of a continuous whole as opposed to just random bits and pieces thrown together. Singer Tobias Netzell has a real death growl, but while the music does often fall in that territory, there are also times when it is way more commercial and into power metal territory, while black metal also makes a welcome appearance here and there. It is this combination of styles and refusal to strictly conform to any boundaries which also seems them listed as being a progressive band, but obviously in the more technical and extreme areas of that genre. Although I have heard their last two albums, this one was new to me, but it does not sound at all dated and if this has been listed as a brand-new release I would not have been surprised as it is still relevant, powerful, and punchy. If, like me, this is an album you missed first time around but enjoy this style of music the this is well worth investigating further with many different styles and time signatures but somehow always making sense.

Latest members reviews

3 stars Disappointing, at least from an extreme-metal-fan's point of view. The Shrouded Divine has become one of my favorite albums over the last two years. I would go as far as declaring it one of my favorite albums of the last decade. With that album being such a favorite of mine the expectations t ... (read more)

Report this review (#271007) | Posted by Robinanimate | Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Dear fellow hardheaded progressiphiles, try imagine a band that plays a mix style of Opeth and In Flame or Dark Tranquility. If you happen to love those aforementioned, this is it...this is Monolith. I have to say I don't know much about the previous releases of In Mourning as this album, M ... (read more)

Report this review (#267534) | Posted by Jadittir | Monday, February 22, 2010 | Review Permanlink

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