Immension - Immension
It's always great to hear new bands emerging with good ideas and to hear them utilising their influences to create new and interesting music. Nothing is going to be perfect when you first start out, but with the promise that can be heard in Immension's debut EP, their progression is almost a done deal already.
They do the melodic metal thing very well, clearly taking tips from James Hetfield's trademark rhythm guitar and vocal melodies. In fact, they do the melodies so well that the heavier moments end up sounding sound bland and dull in comparison. The instrumentation shines clear as day, but the creativity at times is lost altogether amidst tired-sounding breakdowns and done-to-death melodic metalcore riffs.
Shadow Of Yourself and Lost & Forgotten have some great moments to pick out amongst the less exciting ones, and the choruses are strong. In Vain is a much slower affair; an interesting choice for a 3-track EP, but unfortunately not a particularly interesting song. The lyrics are terrible, and the generic breakdown at the end of the song ends the EP on a lower note than is really fitting for a band that seem to have so much promise.
Immension have a good thing going here, with a melodic metal sound that is immensely enjoyable to listen to and a vibe that harks back to early 90s-era Metallica. I've heard a lot worse debut EPs from unsigned bands, but I've also heard a lot better, especially in the creativity department. This self-titled effort is a good start for the Sheffield four-piece in terms of musicianship and the melodic side of their personality, but not so great in terms of creativity within their more extreme side. Definitely a band to keep an eye on though in 2013.