ALBUM REVIEW: Innumerable Forms – Philosophical Collapse

After one of the best Death-Doom debuts in recent years, INNUMERABLE FORMS are back. Their sophomore full-length effort is due for release via Profound Lore Records on September 16th.

A rapturous assault of foreboding Death Metal jumps into life with a lurking presence. Bestial riffs and insane drumming is met with visceral vocals, far more ferocious than most opening songs, delivering us right into the pits of hell before monolithic atmospherics of doomy morbidity contrast them stunningly. Innumerable Forms, as mentioned, are one of my favourite Death-Doom bands in recent years and the very first moments of this record lead me to believe this title shall not be usurped. Piercing leads add some soul and shred to the malevolent mix while the mainstay is utterly gut-wrenching, menacing and mangled Death Metal. The flaying mass of almost War Metal styled sonic siege amasses within the context of the album perfectly while the atmosphere is not lost or forgotten, giving us a unique concoction of bestially violent music with a monumentous fortitude on the more artist side of things. Delivered with a production that seeps with old school darkness, giving clarity but not compression, it seems Innumerable Forms craft has not weakened an iota.

As if the blasphemous and despairing juxtaposition didn’t offer enough excellent dynamics, we also get these occasional more cosmic moments that harken to vortexes unknown with blissfully eerie musical contortions. Amazingly, these many elements fit together like pieces of a puzzle rather than simply throwing us a mass of misfitting ideas to try and make sense of. In fact, the delivery of this record is very purposeful and full of intent, though the intention itself isn’t forced down our throats. I believe this is one of those albums different people will take very different things from. The macabre decay of Death Metal will always be the heart, but those more doomy moments lean into the funereal while the caustic attacks taunt us with an animalistic hostility. Thusly, the mood is not consistent and that provides a very exciting and volatile experience. What allows the entirety to be fluid is the reliably majestic songwriting and powerful delivery, which regardless of the feeling conveyed has an immense weightiness aided by the crushing production values. This is the pinnacle of grotesque brilliance.

Progressing with a gadarene delve into the unknown depths, there is a blissfully chasmic quality to this music that feels genuinely bottomless as we march headlong into darkness. Skeletal fingers in the form of mighty riffs grip us while being driven forth by booming percussion, never out of reach of bellowing or snarled tales of tribulation from the vocalist. This carefully forged artillery of aural delights was clearly wrought on passion and outstanding songwriting skills. Throughout the albums playing time it does not feel like it re-treads the same ground, while also not staggering away from its own purpose. An effort of matured grandiosity is what we receive and, in my opinion, one that will mark Innumerable Forms are one of the best at this style for a further stretch of their existence, until we hear where they take it next… But be aware, this band may be a consistent force, but they are not a one trick horse.

A marvellous tome of massive soundscapes that feels like an archaic Death Metal classic in the best way. Deservingly exalted from their superb discography, Innumerable Forms deliver another festering opus of decay and desolation with a feral aggression and pungent execution that must not be missed by any enthusiast of grotesquery.