To be perfectly honest with you, it has been quite some time since I have listened to an album by In the Woods…, which is not to say that I do not like their albums, because I most certainly do, but following their "Three Times Seven on a Pilgrimage" compilation all the way back in 2000, I just kind of lost touch with them. Having said that, I was very excited about reviewing this upcoming 2018 effort of theirs and I might as well start off by telling you that these highly creative and talented Norwegians did not let me down.

"Cease the Day" contains eight well-written and cleverly arranged pieces that together sound like a pulsating soundscape in which various genres mix and mingle effortlessly with each other. The album as a whole is as emotionally charged as they come and the tunes have an urgency to them that constantly push them forwards, which is to say that there is an energy and a drive to the record that is wonderful to experience. There are plenty of surprises and startling elements in store for the listener, and its drama and intensity draws you in without you even knowing or noticing it. You want textures, layers, subtle details, nuances, and depth? You will find all of those present on "Cease the Day". I love the way in which the songs shift from warm and almost comfortable-sounding passages to cold and threatening ones, but I suppose that is merely another way of saying that the album has a chilling beauty to it that is dangerously compelling and easy to lose oneself in.

More or less everything flows together seamlessly and the stellar musicianship along with the vibrant and booming production make this a must-have. It is a challenging listen, but utterly absorbing and rewarding too. This is simply Norwegian melancholy at its finest and most diverse (and most progressive and introspective for that matter), and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this will serve as the perfect accompaniment to the bleak winter months that lie ahead of us. A superb effort!

 

https://in-the-woods.bandcamp.com/