REVIEW: Imminence - Axis Mundi
IMMINENCE have never been a band to stick to a single genre. Throughout their career, they’ve continually switched things up with each release, always experimenting, exploring new ideas, and refining their craft. Although the band are no strangers to taking a cinematic approach to their work, this time they’ve taken it to another level. Since the release of the first single for their upcoming album Axis Mundi, the cinematic quality has been striking, with vivid imagery helping to bring the story to life, and it hasn’t let up yet.
Axis Mundi will be the sixth studio album for Swedish metalcore pioneers IMMINENCE. Earlier in the year with the announcement of the album was the news of the band signing to Sumerian Records after their previous album The Black was self-released. The transition to Sumerian has marked a significant boost in the band’s rollout marketing ahead of Axis Mundi, with puzzles and an entire website packed with mini-games and clues that have been revealing the band’s latest drops over the past couple of months.
Despite some cynical backlash online surrounding the signing, the band have stated that the label had no input during the recording process, and that the ideas behind the album have been entirely their own. Inspiration was said to have been drawn from Sweden’s Midsummer, and the phrase 'Axis Mundi' is derived from the Latin meaning “world axis” or “centre of the world”, but in mythological terms often refers to the concept of a connection between Heaven and Earth.
IMMINENCE were formed in 2009 in Trelleborg, Sweden, with the current line-up consisting of Eddie Berg (vocals, violin), Harald Barratt (vocals, guitar), Alex Arnoldsson (guitar), and Christian Höijer (bass). Their 2024 album, The Black, quickly became their biggest-selling release and marked a turning point for the band. Its distinctive blend of metalcore and classical elements helped propel them further into the spotlight.
In the lead up to the release of the full album, the four singles were released sequentially with three of them having accompanying music videos, each emphasising a different “chapter” and contributing to the album’s overarching narrative. The story so far follows an immortal knight on a quest to die, pillaging settlements as they go, until they come across a dog amongst some of the settler’s belongings. The most touching moment in If Not Now, When is the light shining around the knight when seen through the dog’s eyes. Despite the viewer witnessing all of the killing and destruction the knight has caused, to the dog the knight means everything. It has since been announced that an hour film has been created around the album’s story, with screenings taking place in cinemas worldwide in the days before the album’s release.
Twisting In The Wind gently eases you into things, its leading melody settling you in for the ride. The chord progression is emotional and introspective; the fry screams mixed with the violin playing are euphoric. The songs IMMINENCE create have a remarkable ability to draw you in, creating an all encompassing feeling that makes you feel deeply connected to the music. Even without focusing on the lyrics, the structure and composition alone are enough to evoke a sense of immersion. The Sword That Never Bends ramps up things from where Twisting in the Wind left off. It’s one of the album’s more buoyant tracks, leaning further into a classic metalcore anthem than some of the others. The chorus is instantly catchy, with an infectious hook, while the violin feels nothing short of transcendent.
Charging into your ears next is Devil May Try, beginning in a frantic fashion before settling into a surging chorus. The track shifts between urgent cries and clean vocals, creating a sense of paranoia that perfectly complements the lyric, “I need to look over my shoulder.” There’s plenty of vocal layering throughout, with each added dimension intensifying the track’s frantic, unsettled nature. Crestfallen allows you to relax for a brief moment, with its haunting collective of instruments laying themselves bare. In addition the vocals here are incredibly impressive, with Berg effortlessly shifting between the soaring highs and deep lows.
It’s safe to say that False Light might be one of the band’s most unhinged tracks ever. Following in the footsteps of Death Shall Have No Dominion that came out last year, False Light definitely doesn’t hold back. Its fury-fueled unadulterated rage is a force to be reckoned with, with no band member left in the dust. It’s full throttle from start to end. From here the tone shifts ever so slightly, If Not Now, When is a shoegaze-y, dreamy number that if you have seen the music video will stay with you for much longer.
Didn't Think About You (Lately) will possibly be the track that people will pick up on the most as there are almost zero metal elements here; Berg has called to his other influences such as BON IVER and the band’s love for SIGUR RÓS has informed this track amongst others in their career but not quite like this. IMMINENCE tends to have their lyrics presented in an abstract way, allowing the listener to make their own connections in it, but in Didn't Think About You (Lately) specifically the lyrics are more straightforward, exposing and fragile. The song’s electronic sound culminates in a drum and bass breakbeat, an unexpected addition that works surprisingly well and adds dynamic to the track.
As a track Leviathan seemingly feels like an interlude of sorts, whilst it stands well on its own there are certain patterns that sound reminiscent of earlier in the album. The guitars here are relentless, pairing in harmony with some of the album’s most satisfying screams.
Shed Your Skin is another track that is led by a distinct shoegaze sound. The hazy, laidback feel to it showcases the instruments softer tone, the fuzziness making you feel safe. The penultimate track, Power Divine, has a crunchy undertone, with its guitars sounding abrupt and gritty. Throughout the album, the band uses the voice as an instrument in its own right, and this track is an example of that approach. The chorus is captivating and unmistakably IMMINENCE, while the final forty seconds erupt into something cathartic and enraged.
Exodus brings together many of the elements heard throughout the album, combining them into one meaty, distorted rumble. The duality at play here encapsulates much of the album’s overarching themes, with “I wanna find god” ringing out as the track shifts between its heavier and softer moments. The guitar solo acts as a turning point, leading into an extended orchestral outro that offers a powerful sense of liberation, bringing the album to a fitting close.
The album will also have a mysterious additional track that will only be available to the listener via a physical copy, with the band apparently having no intention of ever releasing the track digitally. Axis Mundi as a whole is a cohesive and full experience, some of the songs may not make sense on their own, in the context of the album they contribute to a deeper and expansive lore. In one album there are elements of drum and bass, shoegaze, post hardcore, orchestral and symphonic, and of course melodic metalcore. For those expecting a follow-up to The Black, Axis Mundi may not be quite what they anticipate, although elements of its predecessor remain. The sound doesn’t feel entirely unfamiliar; rather it feels like a natural evolution. One that is searching for the light in hopes of redemption.
The Axis Mundi film is set to be shown in cinemas worldwide, with screenings taking place on 29 September and 1 October. Following the album’s promotional events, the band will head to the States for a tour with DYING WISH and GAEREA. Early next year, they’ll return to Europe for a run of shows with AUGUST BURNS RED and HOUSE OF PROTECTION, with a number of summer dates already announced for next year.
Score: 10/10
Axis Mundi will be released on 2nd October 2026 via Sumerian Records.
Words: Danielle Henderson
Photos: Dorota Szulc
Comments