Last Friday was a big day for fans of melodic metalcore as Imminence released their highly anticipated sixth album, Axis Mundi. As someone who has become a huge fan of the band over the past couple album cycles, I was very excited and intrigued about what the new album would bring. Imminence’s music has one of the most unique sounds, and the way they can transition from the nastiest breakdown you’ve ever heard to the most emotional and moving orchestral piece is truly impressive and is what drew me to their music when I first discovered them. Throughout their career they have always excelled at balancing these two sonic extremes, but with Axis Mundi the band really proved just how creatively they could integrate the two different styles of music.
One of the main things that caught my attention in the record was the pacing of the songs. How a piece of music is structured can really make the difference between a decent listening experience and a brilliant one. If an album only contains one pace, whether it be a slower, melodic one or, on the flip side, a nonstop, balls-to-the-wall rage fest throughout, I tend to get really bored as everything starts to blur together. I did not have this issue in the slightest with Axis Mundi. Throughout the entire runtime, the band knew the perfect moments to slow down the track, opting for more instrumental and atmospheric sounds and then slowly building up to the crescendo when all hell begins to break loose. This is something I have always appreciated about how Imminence approaches their music. All of the patient buildup just makes the explosion in the chorus and breakdowns so much more powerful and exciting.
Axis Mundi is one of the few records that I have listened to in the past year where I can genuinely say I enjoy every single song on the album. Each track is incredibly unique to itself while consistently keeping the same emotional depth and passion that makes the album what it is. The standout tracks, in my opinion, are definitely the album opener “Twisting In the Wind,” which lyrically I believe to be the most impactful on the record; "Crestfallen," which I believe is about to become a long-lasting fan-favorite, the absolute barn burner that is “The Sword That Never Bends"; and finally, the closing track “Exodus,” which is the perfect example of sonic balancing that I mentioned previously. The ending tracks heavy hitting chorus coupled with the most beautiful, cinematic violin lead instrumental, closing off both the song and album, really leaves a lasting impression after every listen.
Ever since the band began releasing singles from this record several months ago, I have been waiting patiently but also anxiously for the release. Their album The Black was one of my favorite records to date, and I was curious if the next release would be able to stack up to the sheer excellence that was the band's previous record. However, after hearing the new record, I am very happy to report that Axis Mundi is not only a worthy successor to The Black but also a great example of just how creative and consistent Imminence continues to be as a band. The new record perfectly incorporates newer sounds that the band hasn’t experimented with in previous records while still keeping true to the sound that makes Imminence who they are. I am very excited to see where their career takes them in the coming years, because if Axis Mundi is anything to go by, Imminence may just become known as one of the most talented and recognizable bands in metalcore. And for me, they already are.
