ImminenceTurn The Light On

Turn The Light On is the third album from Swedish alternative metalcore band Imminence.

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This time, Imminence has turned its gaze inwards, to explore the turbulence of internal struggles with depression, self-destruction, and conflicting emotions.

Turn The Light On has broad stylistic appeal, with one foot in a form of mellow alt-rock but enough punchy, bouncy riffs and angst-laden vocals to satisfy metalcore fans. The opening track Erase announces that Eddie Berg is unafraid to bear his clean vocals at the forefront of the sound; the rawness of Berg’s clean vocal sound gives this track and others a sense of vulnerability. Similarly, the fusion of styles works well in Paralyzed, with a moody piano part supported by steady, heavy guitars. More precisely, one may describe Imminence’s sound as alternative melodic metalcore, as can be heard in two of the strongest tracks Saturated Soul and the arena-scale Scars. Still, tracks like The Sickness remind us that Imminence can lash out full metalcore-style.

The main flavour here is emotionally charged metalcore that makes effective use of violin and piano to underscore its message.

Vocalist and violinist Berg delivers one of the most striking and definitive features of Imminence’s sound. The violin creates a strangely ethereal vibe in Infectious, one of the most melodically memorable tracks on Turn The Light On. On the other hand, Lighthouse shows that the violin melds innovatively with Imminence’s straight up metalcore style. The combined use of violin and piano give Turn The Light On a decent infusion of passion, and a slightly symphonic edge. The closing track Love & Grace is soulful and powerful, though a slow piano track with weeping violin, Berg’s vocal integrity is outstanding, and the pared back instrumentation is effective and sophisticated.

Turn The Light On is a relatively long album across thirteen tracks and it does run into some pacing issues towards the third quarter. Overall however, there is a lot of variety and it is likely to appeal to a broad range of tastes. That said the main flavour here is emotionally charged metalcore that makes effective use of violin and piano to underscore its message.

STANDOUT TRACKS: Infectious, Scars, Saturated Soul
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Landmvrks, Venues, While She Sleeps