There’s a reason Imminence has been receiving so much attention in the world of heavy music over the past two years or so. They possess something that not many heavy bands have in their locker. Frontman Eddie Berg contributes not just the lead vocals, but is also the violinist providing such mesmerising strings. An instrument not typically associated with heavy music, but the way it combines with his crushing vocals just works so beautifully. For a band that has been in existence since 2009, it took 2024’s The Black for them to truly make their mark and gain some worldwide recognition in the scene. It also put them on my radar due to constantly hearing their name and eventually finding out for myself how great they are.That’s not to say earlier releases weren’t still high quality, but when The Black dropped, it earned them a lot more widespread praise from the metal community. Deservedly so, might I add, as it was an incredible record.
Its follow up, Axis Mundi, is no exception, with leading single The Sword That Never Bends arriving on June 11th to similar reception in the metalcore community. Along with it, a music video that is somewhat reminiscent of a Game of Thrones battle scene, to further illustrate the band’s ability to tell a story with its growing progression and popularity. Fans going on to say in comments that “they are making films with a soundtrack.” Something that would continue with each video on this album’s cycle. The song was their first release since signing with Sumerian Records, its chorus once again showing the leaps in quality the band has taken in recent years. It is undeniable that Eddie Berg is an outstanding songwriter and performer, so to see the band getting the level of recognition throughout the heavy music scene they have as of late is thoroughly deserved. Second single False Light would follow on July 21st, as Berg begins the track “I need to cut you out, before you settle in” then screams its title. The string playing throughout is phenomenal too and really sets them apart from other bands in the metalcore scene. The very next day, the band would announce the upcoming release of album number 6, Axis Mundi, set for October 2nd, as well as include its third single, Crestfallen. That one would end up being a significantly different sound from what they are typically known for, a softer orchestral offering without as much of the usual screams to go along with it. It ended up being a pleasant surprise however, as Berg’s clean vocals really shone through and gave a new perspective on the what the band was capable of. Its chorus sung beautifully alongside the always incredible violin playing. The final single would come on August 26th when If Not Now, When released and continued the run of high quality from the fast approaching album.
Once the date arrived, I was eager to hear what they had in store for me, having enjoyed each of the singles. Of the eleven tracks in total, this album absolutely delivers on a healthy combination of heavy and clean vocals. It would be unfair to say that the band is a one man show, because guitarist Harald Barrett does a fantastic job too. But Eddie Berg is without question the standout performance on Axis Mundi. His voice can go from beautiful cleans right to aggressive screams, making it seem almost effortless and once he lets his strings take over, it is truly a magnificent sound. Of the album’s non-singles, opener Twisting In The Wind, Devil May Try and the fantastic Shed Your Skin all have to get a mention, simply because they are brilliant songs and their exact placement on the album when mixed with the singles is flawless. So if you’re in any way interested to know what the fuss is about, when it comes to Imminence just as I was previously around the time of The Black, and are yet to give them a chance, I strongly urge you to change that, because Axis Mundi is an amazing album and more than worthy of its praise through the heavy music scene.
We here at Comic Book Clique give this album a 9/10 and recommend the tracks False Light, Crestfallen and Shed Your Skin