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#in-vain — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #in-vain, aggregated by home.social.

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  1. Kontrast-Programm! Am vergangenen Mittwoch waren wir bei Sind im Tower in Bremen, feiner Indie-Rock aus Berlin.

    Am gestrigen Samstag waren wir dann zu Gast im Kronensaal in Hamburg. Dort gab sich Iotunn, sowie In Vain und Nehphylim als Support die Ehre.

    #tower
    #kronensaal
    #iotunn
    #invain
    #nephylim
    #sind
    #bremen
    #hamburg
    #konzerte

  2. Kontrast-Programm! Am vergangenen Mittwoch waren wir bei Sind im Tower in Bremen, feiner Indie-Rock aus Berlin.

    Am gestrigen Samstag waren wir dann zu Gast im Kronensaal in Hamburg. Dort gab sich Iotunn, sowie In Vain und Nehphylim als Support die Ehre.

    #tower
    #kronensaal
    #iotunn
    #invain
    #nephylim
    #sind
    #bremen
    #hamburg
    #konzerte

  3. Kontrast-Programm! Am vergangenen Mittwoch waren wir bei Sind im Tower in Bremen, feiner Indie-Rock aus Berlin.

    Am gestrigen Samstag waren wir dann zu Gast im Kronensaal in Hamburg. Dort gab sich Iotunn, sowie In Vain und Nehphylim als Support die Ehre.

    #tower
    #kronensaal
    #iotunn
    #invain
    #nephylim
    #sind
    #bremen
    #hamburg
    #konzerte

  4. Kontrast-Programm! Am vergangenen Mittwoch waren wir bei Sind im Tower in Bremen, feiner Indie-Rock aus Berlin.

    Am gestrigen Samstag waren wir dann zu Gast im Kronensaal in Hamburg. Dort gab sich Iotunn, sowie In Vain und Nehphylim als Support die Ehre.

    #tower
    #kronensaal
    #iotunn
    #invain
    #nephylim
    #sind
    #bremen
    #hamburg
    #konzerte

  5. Kontrast-Programm! Am vergangenen Mittwoch waren wir bei Sind im Tower in Bremen, feiner Indie-Rock aus Berlin.

    Am gestrigen Samstag waren wir dann zu Gast im Kronensaal in Hamburg. Dort gab sich Iotunn, sowie In Vain und Nehphylim als Support die Ehre.

    #tower
    #kronensaal
    #iotunn
    #invain
    #nephylim
    #sind
    #bremen
    #hamburg
    #konzerte

  6. Auftritte gestern: #Nephylim - nicht so meins. Ich mag die Art des Gesangs nicht, die der Sänger hauptsächlich benutzt. Wenn ich das höre denke ich immer, das sollen Growls sein, die er einfach nicht kann (danke an #WithinTemptation damals für diese Assoziation).
    #InVain haben mir gefallen. Der Sänger kommt so richtig tief und trotzdem kraftvoll mit seiner Stimme, so soll das. Überhaupt empfand ich das als beeindruckenden Range, den er hatte. Und dass hin und wieder Gitarristen und Bassist mit einsteigen, resultierte in schönen Harmonien.

    #MetalheadConcerts

  7. Auftritte gestern: #Nephylim - nicht so meins. Ich mag die Art des Gesangs nicht, die der Sänger hauptsächlich benutzt. Wenn ich das höre denke ich immer, das sollen Growls sein, die er einfach nicht kann (danke an #WithinTemptation damals für diese Assoziation).
    #InVain haben mir gefallen. Der Sänger kommt so richtig tief und trotzdem kraftvoll mit seiner Stimme, so soll das. Überhaupt empfand ich das als beeindruckenden Range, den er hatte. Und dass hin und wieder Gitarristen und Bassist mit einsteigen, resultierte in schönen Harmonien.

    #MetalheadConcerts

  8. Kassel: night 16 of the Kinship Tour with #Iotunn , with #InVain as special guests and #Nephylim opening 🎥

    Three shows left after this: Utrecht, Hamburg, and Copenhagen.

    👕 #alltband from #oktoberpromotion

  9. Kassel: night 16 of the Kinship Tour with #Iotunn , with #InVain as special guests and #Nephylim opening 🎥

    Three shows left after this: Utrecht, Hamburg, and Copenhagen.

    👕 #alltband from #oktoberpromotion

  10. Kassel: night 16 of the Kinship Tour with #Iotunn , with #InVain as special guests and #Nephylim opening 🎥

    Three shows left after this: Utrecht, Hamburg, and Copenhagen.

    👕 #alltband from #oktoberpromotion

  11. Kassel: night 16 of the Kinship Tour with #Iotunn , with #InVain as special guests and #Nephylim opening 🎥

    Three shows left after this: Utrecht, Hamburg, and Copenhagen.

    👕 #alltband from #oktoberpromotion

  12. Finally gonna see #Iotunn for the very first time live on stage this evening, with #InVain and #Nephylim as support. Since this band has advanced to one of my most listened to acts, I’m all very excited! 🤘

    song.link/y/6m-A-NYwo2k

    #metalheadConcerts

  13. Finally gonna see #Iotunn for the very first time live on stage this evening, with #InVain and #Nephylim as support. Since this band has advanced to one of my most listened to acts, I’m all very excited! 🤘

    song.link/y/6m-A-NYwo2k

    #metalheadConcerts

  14. Finally gonna see #Iotunn for the very first time live on stage this evening, with #InVain and #Nephylim as support. Since this band has advanced to one of my most listened to acts, I’m all very excited! 🤘

    song.link/y/6m-A-NYwo2k

    #metalheadConcerts

  15. Finally gonna see #Iotunn for the very first time live on stage this evening, with #InVain and #Nephylim as support. Since this band has advanced to one of my most listened to acts, I’m all very excited! 🤘

    song.link/y/6m-A-NYwo2k

    #metalheadConcerts

  16. Finally gonna see #Iotunn for the very first time live on stage this evening, with #InVain and #Nephylim as support. Since this band has advanced to one of my most listened to acts, I’m all very excited! 🤘

    song.link/y/6m-A-NYwo2k

    #metalheadConcerts

  17. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1791538

  18. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1799385

  19. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1811090

  20. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1681383

  21. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1906812

  22. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1795357

  23. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1852897

  24. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1565179

  25. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1553723

  26. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1546085

  27. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1902894

  28. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1561360

  29. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1635909

  30. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1927899

  31. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1848234

  32. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1864830

  33. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1836230

  34. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1832411

  35. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1697077

  36. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1673336

  37. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1648036

  38. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1807042

  39. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1746244

  40. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1823912

  41. Iotunn + In Vain + Nephylim @ Le Ferrailleur - 14 Apr feat. Nephylim, In Vain, Iotunn

    #SESH #Nephylim #InVain #Iotunn

    sesh.sx/e/1827731

  42. Muzyka:
    »Singiel „In Vain” zespołu Mudslinger«

    Mudslinger wypuścił nową kompozycję "In Vain". To jeden z najmocniejszych i najbardziej bezkompromisowych utworów w dotychczasowym katalogu zespołu. Piosenka autorstwa braci Sacharczuk uderza nie tylko ciężarem brzmienia, ale przede wszystkim przekazem

    fahrenheit.net.pl/muzyka/singi

    #Fahrenheit_zin #Mudslinger #InVain #MichałKwaśniak #ŁukaszKleszczyński #CezarySacharczuk #JakubSacharczuk #stonermetal #groovemetal

  43. Muzyka:
    »Singiel „In Vain” zespołu Mudslinger«

    Mudslinger wypuścił nową kompozycję "In Vain". To jeden z najmocniejszych i najbardziej bezkompromisowych utworów w dotychczasowym katalogu zespołu. Piosenka autorstwa braci Sacharczuk uderza nie tylko ciężarem brzmienia, ale przede wszystkim przekazem

    fahrenheit.net.pl/muzyka/singi

    #Fahrenheit_zin #Mudslinger #InVain #MichałKwaśniak #ŁukaszKleszczyński #CezarySacharczuk #JakubSacharczuk #stonermetal #groovemetal

  44. Muzyka:
    »Singiel „In Vain” zespołu Mudslinger«

    Mudslinger wypuścił nową kompozycję "In Vain". To jeden z najmocniejszych i najbardziej bezkompromisowych utworów w dotychczasowym katalogu zespołu. Piosenka autorstwa braci Sacharczuk uderza nie tylko ciężarem brzmienia, ale przede wszystkim przekazem

    fahrenheit.net.pl/muzyka/singi

    #Fahrenheit_zin #Mudslinger #InVain #MichałKwaśniak #ŁukaszKleszczyński #CezarySacharczuk #JakubSacharczuk #stonermetal #groovemetal

  45. Muzyka:
    »Singiel „In Vain” zespołu Mudslinger«

    Mudslinger wypuścił nową kompozycję "In Vain". To jeden z najmocniejszych i najbardziej bezkompromisowych utworów w dotychczasowym katalogu zespołu. Piosenka autorstwa braci Sacharczuk uderza nie tylko ciężarem brzmienia, ale przede wszystkim przekazem

    fahrenheit.net.pl/muzyka/singi

    #Fahrenheit_zin #Mudslinger #InVain #MichałKwaśniak #ŁukaszKleszczyński #CezarySacharczuk #JakubSacharczuk #stonermetal #groovemetal

  46. Eventuell hab ich von meinem Bruder @Bullkay heute Konzerttickets für #Iotunn geschenkt bekommen 🥰. Mit #InVain als Support 🥰. #MetalheadConcerts

  47. Eventuell hab ich von meinem Bruder @Bullkay heute Konzerttickets für #Iotunn geschenkt bekommen 🥰. Mit #InVain als Support 🥰. #MetalheadConcerts

  48. An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City Review

    By Killjoy

    When a group strikes gold, I imagine that there might be a temptation to continue mining the same vein. In 2022, Sweden’s An Abstract Illusion seized the metalverse by the collective throat and shook it with forceful pathos. Woe was a start-to-finish progressive death metal masterpiece which edged out some stiff competition to take the number one spot on my personal Top Ten(ish) list that year. The same was true for Carcharodon, whose mighty shoes—flippers?—I humbly struggle to fill. Now, with the release of The Sleeping City, An Abstract Illusion boldly declares that they are not content to repeat themselves.

    As a comparison of their cover artworks suggests, The Sleeping City is something of a tonal opposite of Woe. Whereas Woe was despairing with occasional hopeful spots, The Sleeping City is mainly bright with pockets of ferocity. At its core, An Abstract Illusion still plays a deeply emotive strain of progressive death, like a more intimate and less pompous In Vain or In Mourning. Vivid neon synths in the classic fashion of Tangerine Dream or John Carpenter now abound. This invites comparisons to last year’s Blood Incantation record, but I daresay that the synths are integrated more naturally and tastefully in The Sleeping City. An Abstract Illusion never goes full synthwave, though they do flirt with the style on “Silverfields” and “Frost Flower.”

    An Abstract Illusion’s unbridled emotional outpouring is still present in ways both familiar and new. To this end, the vocals are even more expressive. Christian Berglönn’s screams display his signature unsettling anguish (“No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons,” “Emmett”) and guest Lukas Backeström’s singing in “Frost Flower” is crisp and angelic. The Sleeping City also features a couple of guest violinists (Dawn Ye and Flavia Fontana) and a cellist (Jonathan Miranda-Figueroa), who pair extremely well with the crystalline synths to hone their poignant edges. Crucially, the strings are not overused, which might have cheapened their impact. The real magic happens when these elements come together, namely during the lush instrumental section in “Blackmurmur,” which builds to a sexy synth solo (Robert Stenvall) and then erupts into despairing howls. Drummer Isak Nilsson is a great addition, whose frenetic tempos and deliberate tom rhythms heighten listener engagement.

    On The Sleeping City, Karl Westerlund again proves himself a master of long-form songwriting. Unlike Woe, which felt like a singular body of work with distinct movements, The Sleeping City is composed of tracks that fit together more like jigsaw puzzle pieces. The individual tracks flow effortlessly while also subtly crossing over with one another, such as the similarly mysterious synth tunes which manifest back to back in “Frost Flower” and “Emmett.” The overall pacing feels less meticulous and patient than Woe, though this is not necessarily a bad thing, just different. An Abstract Illusion makes good use of the hour runtime; the aimless noodling at the end of “No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons” being the only part that could have been trimmed away.1 The production doesn’t quite do this magnificent music justice—see the DR score below—but it’s hardly a dealbreaker.

    The Sleeping City is evidence that Woe was not a one-hit wonder. Even more impressive, An Abstract Illusion managed to recreate prior success while significantly overhauling their style. The Sleeping City is different enough to further expand An Abstract Illusion’s fanbase while retaining the heartfelt compositions that garnered such a large following before. The gorgeous cascading arpeggios that bathe The Sleeping City are an easy highlight. Recurring notes and melodies give each track a sense of identity, yet each is of equal quality that I can’t (nor do I want to) pick any favorites. An Abstract Illusion is still firing on all cylinders, and it’s exhilarating to behold.

    Rating: 4.0/5.0
    DR: 4 | Format Reviewed: FLAC
    Label: Willowtip Records
    Websites: anabstractillusion.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/anabstractillusion
    Releases Worldwide: October 17th, 2025

    #2025 #40 #AnAbstractIllusion #BloodIncantation #DeathMetal #InMourning #InVain #JohnCarpenter #Oct25 #ProgressiveDeath #ProgressiveMetal #Review #Reviews #SwedishMetal #TangerineDream #TheSleepingCity #WillowtipRecords

  49. An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City Review

    By Killjoy

    When a group strikes gold, I imagine that there might be a temptation to continue mining the same vein. In 2022, Sweden’s An Abstract Illusion seized the metalverse by the collective throat and shook it with forceful pathos. Woe was a start-to-finish progressive death metal masterpiece which edged out some stiff competition to take the number one spot on my personal Top Ten(ish) list that year. The same was true for Carcharodon, whose mighty shoes—flippers?—I humbly struggle to fill. Now, with the release of The Sleeping City, An Abstract Illusion boldly declares that they are not content to repeat themselves.

    As a comparison of their cover artworks suggests, The Sleeping City is something of a tonal opposite of Woe. Whereas Woe was despairing with occasional hopeful spots, The Sleeping City is mainly bright with pockets of ferocity. At its core, An Abstract Illusion still plays a deeply emotive strain of progressive death, like a more intimate and less pompous In Vain or In Mourning. Vivid neon synths in the classic fashion of Tangerine Dream or John Carpenter now abound. This invites comparisons to last year’s Blood Incantation record, but I daresay that the synths are integrated more naturally and tastefully in The Sleeping City. An Abstract Illusion never goes full synthwave, though they do flirt with the style on “Silverfields” and “Frost Flower.”

    An Abstract Illusion’s unbridled emotional outpouring is still present in ways both familiar and new. To this end, the vocals are even more expressive. Christian Berglönn’s screams display his signature unsettling anguish (“No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons,” “Emmett”) and guest Lukas Backeström’s singing in “Frost Flower” is crisp and angelic. The Sleeping City also features a couple of guest violinists (Dawn Ye and Flavia Fontana) and a cellist (Jonathan Miranda-Figueroa), who pair extremely well with the crystalline synths to hone their poignant edges. Crucially, the strings are not overused, which might have cheapened their impact. The real magic happens when these elements come together, namely during the lush instrumental section in “Blackmurmur,” which builds to a sexy synth solo (Robert Stenvall) and then erupts into despairing howls. Drummer Isak Nilsson is a great addition, whose frenetic tempos and deliberate tom rhythms heighten listener engagement.

    On The Sleeping City, Karl Westerlund again proves himself a master of long-form songwriting. Unlike Woe, which felt like a singular body of work with distinct movements, The Sleeping City is composed of tracks that fit together more like jigsaw puzzle pieces. The individual tracks flow effortlessly while also subtly crossing over with one another, such as the similarly mysterious synth tunes which manifest back to back in “Frost Flower” and “Emmett.” The overall pacing feels less meticulous and patient than Woe, though this is not necessarily a bad thing, just different. An Abstract Illusion makes good use of the hour runtime; the aimless noodling at the end of “No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons” being the only part that could have been trimmed away.1 The production doesn’t quite do this magnificent music justice—see the DR score below—but it’s hardly a dealbreaker.

    The Sleeping City is evidence that Woe was not a one-hit wonder. Even more impressive, An Abstract Illusion managed to recreate prior success while significantly overhauling their style. The Sleeping City is different enough to further expand An Abstract Illusion’s fanbase while retaining the heartfelt compositions that garnered such a large following before. The gorgeous cascading arpeggios that bathe The Sleeping City are an easy highlight. Recurring notes and melodies give each track a sense of identity, yet each is of equal quality that I can’t (nor do I want to) pick any favorites. An Abstract Illusion is still firing on all cylinders, and it’s exhilarating to behold.

    Rating: 4.0/5.0
    DR: 4 | Format Reviewed: FLAC
    Label: Willowtip Records
    Websites: anabstractillusion.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/anabstractillusion
    Releases Worldwide: October 17th, 2025

    #2025 #40 #AnAbstractIllusion #BloodIncantation #DeathMetal #InMourning #InVain #JohnCarpenter #Oct25 #ProgressiveDeath #ProgressiveMetal #Review #Reviews #SwedishMetal #TangerineDream #TheSleepingCity #WillowtipRecords

  50. An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City Review

    By Killjoy

    When a group strikes gold, I imagine that there might be a temptation to continue mining the same vein. In 2022, Sweden’s An Abstract Illusion seized the metalverse by the collective throat and shook it with forceful pathos. Woe was a start-to-finish progressive death metal masterpiece which edged out some stiff competition to take the number one spot on my personal Top Ten(ish) list that year. The same was true for Carcharodon, whose mighty shoes—flippers?—I humbly struggle to fill. Now, with the release of The Sleeping City, An Abstract Illusion boldly declares that they are not content to repeat themselves.

    As a comparison of their cover artworks suggests, The Sleeping City is something of a tonal opposite of Woe. Whereas Woe was despairing with occasional hopeful spots, The Sleeping City is mainly bright with pockets of ferocity. At its core, An Abstract Illusion still plays a deeply emotive strain of progressive death, like a more intimate and less pompous In Vain or In Mourning. Vivid neon synths in the classic fashion of Tangerine Dream or John Carpenter now abound. This invites comparisons to last year’s Blood Incantation record, but I daresay that the synths are integrated more naturally and tastefully in The Sleeping City. An Abstract Illusion never goes full synthwave, though they do flirt with the style on “Silverfields” and “Frost Flower.”

    An Abstract Illusion’s unbridled emotional outpouring is still present in ways both familiar and new. To this end, the vocals are even more expressive. Christian Berglönn’s screams display his signature unsettling anguish (“No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons,” “Emmett”) and guest Lukas Backeström’s singing in “Frost Flower” is crisp and angelic. The Sleeping City also features a couple of guest violinists (Dawn Ye and Flavia Fontana) and a cellist (Jonathan Miranda-Figueroa), who pair extremely well with the crystalline synths to hone their poignant edges. Crucially, the strings are not overused, which might have cheapened their impact. The real magic happens when these elements come together, namely during the lush instrumental section in “Blackmurmur,” which builds to a sexy synth solo (Robert Stenvall) and then erupts into despairing howls. Drummer Isak Nilsson is a great addition, whose frenetic tempos and deliberate tom rhythms heighten listener engagement.

    On The Sleeping City, Karl Westerlund again proves himself a master of long-form songwriting. Unlike Woe, which felt like a singular body of work with distinct movements, The Sleeping City is composed of tracks that fit together more like jigsaw puzzle pieces. The individual tracks flow effortlessly while also subtly crossing over with one another, such as the similarly mysterious synth tunes which manifest back to back in “Frost Flower” and “Emmett.” The overall pacing feels less meticulous and patient than Woe, though this is not necessarily a bad thing, just different. An Abstract Illusion makes good use of the hour runtime; the aimless noodling at the end of “No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons” being the only part that could have been trimmed away.1 The production doesn’t quite do this magnificent music justice—see the DR score below—but it’s hardly a dealbreaker.

    The Sleeping City is evidence that Woe was not a one-hit wonder. Even more impressive, An Abstract Illusion managed to recreate prior success while significantly overhauling their style. The Sleeping City is different enough to further expand An Abstract Illusion’s fanbase while retaining the heartfelt compositions that garnered such a large following before. The gorgeous cascading arpeggios that bathe The Sleeping City are an easy highlight. Recurring notes and melodies give each track a sense of identity, yet each is of equal quality that I can’t (nor do I want to) pick any favorites. An Abstract Illusion is still firing on all cylinders, and it’s exhilarating to behold.

    Rating: 4.0/5.0
    DR: 4 | Format Reviewed: FLAC
    Label: Willowtip Records
    Websites: anabstractillusion.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/anabstractillusion
    Releases Worldwide: October 17th, 2025

    #2025 #40 #AnAbstractIllusion #BloodIncantation #DeathMetal #InMourning #InVain #JohnCarpenter #Oct25 #ProgressiveDeath #ProgressiveMetal #Review #Reviews #SwedishMetal #TangerineDream #TheSleepingCity #WillowtipRecords

  51. An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City Review

    By Killjoy

    When a group strikes gold, I imagine that there might be a temptation to continue mining the same vein. In 2022, Sweden’s An Abstract Illusion seized the metalverse by the collective throat and shook it with forceful pathos. Woe was a start-to-finish progressive death metal masterpiece which edged out some stiff competition to take the number one spot on my personal Top Ten(ish) list that year. The same was true for Carcharodon, whose mighty shoes—flippers?—I humbly struggle to fill. Now, with the release of The Sleeping City, An Abstract Illusion boldly declares that they are not content to repeat themselves.

    As a comparison of their cover artworks suggests, The Sleeping City is something of a tonal opposite of Woe. Whereas Woe was despairing with occasional hopeful spots, The Sleeping City is mainly bright with pockets of ferocity. At its core, An Abstract Illusion still plays a deeply emotive strain of progressive death, like a more intimate and less pompous In Vain or In Mourning. Vivid neon synths in the classic fashion of Tangerine Dream or John Carpenter now abound. This invites comparisons to last year’s Blood Incantation record, but I daresay that the synths are integrated more naturally and tastefully in The Sleeping City. An Abstract Illusion never goes full synthwave, though they do flirt with the style on “Silverfields” and “Frost Flower.”

    An Abstract Illusion’s unbridled emotional outpouring is still present in ways both familiar and new. To this end, the vocals are even more expressive. Christian Berglönn’s screams display his signature unsettling anguish (“No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons,” “Emmett”) and guest Lukas Backeström’s singing in “Frost Flower” is crisp and angelic. The Sleeping City also features a couple of guest violinists (Dawn Ye and Flavia Fontana) and a cellist (Jonathan Miranda-Figueroa), who pair extremely well with the crystalline synths to hone their poignant edges. Crucially, the strings are not overused, which might have cheapened their impact. The real magic happens when these elements come together, namely during the lush instrumental section in “Blackmurmur,” which builds to a sexy synth solo (Robert Stenvall) and then erupts into despairing howls. Drummer Isak Nilsson is a great addition, whose frenetic tempos and deliberate tom rhythms heighten listener engagement.

    On The Sleeping City, Karl Westerlund again proves himself a master of long-form songwriting. Unlike Woe, which felt like a singular body of work with distinct movements, The Sleeping City is composed of tracks that fit together more like jigsaw puzzle pieces. The individual tracks flow effortlessly while also subtly crossing over with one another, such as the similarly mysterious synth tunes which manifest back to back in “Frost Flower” and “Emmett.” The overall pacing feels less meticulous and patient than Woe, though this is not necessarily a bad thing, just different. An Abstract Illusion makes good use of the hour runtime; the aimless noodling at the end of “No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons” being the only part that could have been trimmed away.1 The production doesn’t quite do this magnificent music justice—see the DR score below—but it’s hardly a dealbreaker.

    The Sleeping City is evidence that Woe was not a one-hit wonder. Even more impressive, An Abstract Illusion managed to recreate prior success while significantly overhauling their style. The Sleeping City is different enough to further expand An Abstract Illusion’s fanbase while retaining the heartfelt compositions that garnered such a large following before. The gorgeous cascading arpeggios that bathe The Sleeping City are an easy highlight. Recurring notes and melodies give each track a sense of identity, yet each is of equal quality that I can’t (nor do I want to) pick any favorites. An Abstract Illusion is still firing on all cylinders, and it’s exhilarating to behold.

    Rating: 4.0/5.0
    DR: 4 | Format Reviewed: FLAC
    Label: Willowtip Records
    Websites: anabstractillusion.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/anabstractillusion
    Releases Worldwide: October 17th, 2025

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