Boden, Sweden’s An
Abstract Illusion has steadily carved out a reputation as one of the
most forward-thinking names in progressive and atmospheric death/black metal.
Formed in 2007, the quartet has spent the better part of two decades perfecting
a sound that balances heaviness with grand, cinematic textures. Their last
album, “Woe” (2022), was hailed across the metal world as a masterpiece,
pushing their name far beyond the underground. Now, three years later, they
return with their third full-length, “The Sleeping City”, a work that draws
inspiration not only from metal’s darker corners but also from electronic
pioneers, shoegaze soundscapes, and the neon-lit world of classic sci-fi
cinema.
“The
Sleeping City” is a journey that fuses the band’s signature intensity with an
expanded sense of atmosphere. Long, immersive compositions such as
“Blackmurmur” and “Emmett” stretch past the ten-minute mark, weaving together
thunderous death metal riffing, icy blackened passages, and dreamlike synth
landscapes. The result feels vast and hypnotic, as if one is being pulled into
an endless city skyline at night, equal parts beautiful and decaying.
Shorter tracks like “Silverfields” provide a moment of instrumental reflection, highlighting the band’s talent for subtle and haunting arrangements. Meanwhile, tracks such as “No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons” and “Like A Geyser Ever Erupting” balance aggression with soaring melody, driven by Christian Berglönn’s dynamic vocal delivery and anchored by Isak Nilsson’s powerful drumming. The mix of acoustic textures, electronic layers, and crushing guitars creates an ever-shifting soundscape that remains cohesive throughout the album’s 60-minute runtime.
There’s
also a strong sense of cinematic storytelling running through the music.
Inspired by films like “Blade Runner” and “Terminator”, the album feels like a
soundtrack to a lost dystopian epic, complete with glimmers of hope hidden
beneath bleak urban ruin. The production, handled by Karl
Westerlund and Robin Leijon, gives
each instrument space to breathe, while the artwork by Alex Eckman-Lawn adds to
the album’s towering sense of grandeur.
“The
Sleeping City” is an album that asks for patience and rewards full immersion.
It’s heavy and ethereal, brutal yet beautiful, and confirms why An Abstract Illusion has become one of the most
talked-about bands in modern extreme metal.
Score: 8.8
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