An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping City (2025)
The Sleeping City is a commanding union of progressive metal complexity and atmospheric breadth. An Abstract Illusion expand beyond conventional death/black metal aggression, weaving in layered synth motifs and expansive sound design that evoke dystopian landscapes and sci-fi grandeur. The result feels simultaneously abrasive and cinematic.
The album trades typical genre constraints for contrasts — searing blast beats and growls give way to sweeping melodies, synth motifs, and occasional clean passages that add emotional contour without sacrificing weight. Songs evolve gradually, anchoring intensity in both texture and structure rather than brute force alone.
What The Sleeping City delivers is consistency and scale. It doesn’t merely present heavy moments; it builds them into an immersive arc that invites full engagement. While the extremity won’t be for everyone, on its own terms this is a thoughtful, layered metal record with enough depth to reward repeat listens.
Genre: Progressive Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Final Verdict: 66% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 222th / 903
Highlight: Like A Geyser Ever Erupting
Made me think of:
Rivers of Nihil
Between the Buried and Me
Fallujah
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