IN THIS ROOM

This is very much a transitional album for the 3rd and the Mortal. The ponderous and boring doom metal focus seems to be completely gone at this point; in fact, the metal part as a whole seems to be gone. The band would eventually release ‘Projekt Bluebook’, a weird kind of electronica-meets-fusion thing that falls rather flat in my opinion.

But this album managed to combine the best (such as there was) of the early Mortal metal with the digifusion band they would become in the 21st century. And that makes for a very surprisingly decent album. Not surprising for their fans I suppose, but I have never been one of those fans. I started listening to the 3rd and the Mortal because I have a friend who lives alone, plays a lot of this kind of depressing Nordic stuff, and frankly I worry about him. And to-date I have found everything the band has done to range from simply awful, to psychically dangerous. So this album came as quite a shock. There is a noticeable lift in the spirit of the band, and at times one almost gets the impression the band might actually be enjoying making this music, possibly even enjoying a day in the sunshine without contemplating how to come up with enough money for airfare to Dr. Kevorkian’s house. Cool.

The two opening tracks (“Harvest” and “Monody”) both fall into that moody, ethereal category that so much of this band’s songs project, but the keyboards are closer to being spacey than to brooding, and the difference from their first few releases is noticeable. With “So Pure” the band goes a step further, mixing a kind of fusion rhythm/percussion sound with whispy lounge-like vocals.

The next several tracks lapse back into the gloomy-Gus mode, but by this time I’m not really buying it, and the effect is more theatrical than serious.

With “Myriad of Peep-Holes” the theatrics are glaringly apparent, and the vocals here are actually very close to passing for mainstream. The closing tune “Sleep” also has this feel to it.

And speaking of mainstream, someone in the band is a David Bowie fan, and “Sort of Invisible” proves this with its very heavy “Scary Monsters & Super Creeps” vibe. I’m tempted to say this is the highlight of the album. Come to think of it, this is my review, so – “Sort of Invisible” is the highlight of the album. There, got that out of the way.

So this one caught me off-guard. I was expecting another opportunity to bash these guys and recommend some good anti-depression medication and some strong mental- health attention to these guys and to their fans. But the band has managed to hit on a quite decent record in the middle of a career that will start off as banal and end up as just uninspired. This is the perfect storm for the band, and the best thing they’ve ever done as near as I can tell. Three stars, and recommended if you like music like Opeth’s ‘Blackwater Park’ and maybe even some of the more laid-back Green Carnation stuff.

peace

In my opinion you can't go wrong with any of THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL's first three albums. I would call this one ("In This Room") their most adventerous and experimental of the three.They keep the mood melancholic throughout but they offer up more variety on this album within that dark mood. There's even some avant moments on here amongst all the atmosphere.

"Stream" opens with atmosphere that builds as the vocals join in.The vocals are passionate after a minute then it all settles back before kicking back in late to end it. "Monody" features drums to start that are replaced by atmosphere quickly. Drums and bass then arrive then vocal melodies.This is very atmospheric. "Sopure" has a beat with bass as reserved vocals join in. Piano after 2 1/2 minutes and an electronic vibe. "The Wooden Lodge" is spacey and atmospheric throughout. Cool tune. "Sophisticated Vampires" is different with those angular guitar melodies along with a beat and vocals.Vocal melodies 2 1/2 minutes in are deranged sounding as the angular guitar continues.

"Harvest" is piano and vocal led in a melancholic mood. It picks up before 1 1/2 minutes with atmosphere. Great sound ! Then back to the previous soundscape. "Did You" features atmosphere and theatrical vocals then it changes 3 minutes in as it kicks in with some heaviness. She's screaming in the background. Excellent. "Myriad Of Peep-Holes" opens with static and faint spoken words as reserved vocals join in.Vocal melodies 2 minutes in then the vocals return. It ends with the static and faint spoken words.

The next three tracks are incredible."Sort Of Invisible" opens with piano and a lush sound. Vocals before a minute. A calm before 3 minutes as the vocals stop. Faint spoken words join in then it kicks back in. Great sound ! "A Touch Of..." has this haunting atmosphere. It kicks in after 2 1/2 minutes with bass and drums.Vocal melodies continue to come and go.This is great ! "Hollow" has this creepy and dark intro as drums join in. Guitar before 1 1/2 minutes then vocal melodies.It all stops and turns experimental 2 1/2 minutes in. It's building as insane vocal melodies join in. "The Barge" is mostly piano and atmosphere. "Sleep" features piano as reserved vocals join in. Synths then guitar after 3 minutes as the vocals stop breifly.

I think it's commendable that they've tried to shake things up a bit here.They took some chances and for the most part this is a success.