Album Review: In Twilight’s Embrace – Vanitas (Arachnophobia Records)

The fourth album from Polish death metal/melodic band In Twilight’s Embrace is called Vanitas & is out on September 22nd 2017 via Arachnophobia Records.

The opening song, The Hell of Mediocrity brings the noise with furious riffing & aggressive blackened death metal vocals. It’s a startling intro but one that is made instantly more palatable thanks to the use of a little melody.

As solid as a start as that is, the album really takes off with the stunning Fan the Flame. A song stuffed with exciting riffs, fantastic vocals & blasting drum beats. It’s one of the highlights of a well-put together melodic death metal album.

In Twilight’s Embrace’s approach to death metal is one that is as much about delivering a memorable musical experience as much as it is about tearing your face off with intense heaviness. They get the balance of ferocity & melody just right resulting in songs like As Future Evaporates & Flesh Falls, No Ghost Lifts pulling on the emotions as well as causing involuntary neck spasms.

While it is mostly fast & heavy throughout the drops into slower & doomier sounds help break things up. Trembling is a moody number, opening with a throaty roar before guitar melody; a chugging riff & a hard-hitting slow drum beat deliver an extremely memorable track.

The latter part of the album chooses to pull no punches, going for the kill with speed & refinement. The confidence that seeps from Vanitas is inspiring; the band delivers stylish & exciting metal.

In Twilight’s Embrace – Vanitas Full Track Listing:

1. The Hell of Mediocrity
2. Fan the Flame
3. As Future Evaporates
4. Trembling
5. Flesh Falls, No Ghost Lifts
6. Futility
7. The Rift
8. The Great Leveller

Head over to Bandcamp to pick up In Twilight’s Embrace’s music as well as order the album via Arachnophobia Records here. You can find out more about the band on Facebook & the label here.