In Vain - The Latter Rain
Indie Recordings

file under black/pagan metal

Roel F.: Sometimes it seems impossible to classify an album, as if some bands are deliberately trying to make placing their releases into a certain context problematic by composing music that is difficult to get into. Norway’s In Vain is one of those bands, and they have outdone themselves in creating the abovementioned stumbling block.

However, once the listener has proven prepared to negotiate this obstacle, ‘The Latter Rain’ will turn out well worth the effort: it is a complex of musical avenues that vary from death, black and heavy metal to exquisite progressive passages and emotion-laden elements while throughout aggression and calm fight for the lime-light. Even some poppy constructs have been used in the never-ending quest for variety, while the focus on the extreme end of the music is retained.

The amazing thing is that In Vain seems comfortable with the execution of all the genres mentioned. Everything has fallen into place very nicely, making the diversity sound anything but forced. Better yet, the fusion of genres comes across as natural and normal, something very few bands that try their hand at this kind of synthesis can bring about. Guitar player J. Haaland, who is responsible for all compositions, simply is a very talented musician, even though the audible chemistry that comes from having twenty musicians participating on the same project must not be forgotten.

Special attention must be given to the manner of employment, although sporadic in nature, of the saxophone and cello. The combination of metal and brass and/or classical instruments is not the most common, let alone the most successful one. Pro-Pain, Sear Bliss (both brass) and Dimmu Borgir (brass and classical instruments) have ventured into these murky waters, but, and this is getting a tad old, In Vain really knows how to create something beautiful and tasteful with these instruments.

It is customary at some point in a review to construct a frame of reference by naming some well-known representatives of a certain genre with which the band in question shares musical inclinations or directions, but with ‘The Latter Rain’ that would be a waste of time, as too much is happening to label everything specifically. Suffice to say that during the more that sixty minutes duration of this record, there is no dull moment to be found. It is not every day that something as good as ‘The Latter Rain’ is released.

Rating: 90/100 (details)

http://www.invain.org

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