Mercenary
Through Our Darkest Days
NoiseArt Records
2013
I approached this album in good conscience but with a tad of skepticism. You see Mercenary is a band that I used to like a lot. Their music style has always been very intensive & distinctive. Their previous release, “Metamorphosis”, was a major letdown for all us “old fans”. The line-up changes didn’t work for the band’s own benefit and how the hell does this band go on without Mikkel?! This feels sooo wrong!
In any case, this ain’t the only problem with the “new Mercenary”. Unfortunately, they reduced the gloomy & melancholic elements they once had and replaced them with more “modern/metalcore” ones. That’s why the previous work was an actual disappointment in every part. Even the melodies were very bland there. Anyway, the band seemed to have learnt from their previous mistake and they do approach their old sound here, even though the darkness & depression of the “old days” are not present. They may have called the album “Through Our Darkest Days” but this “dark” ain’t so dim or sultry as it used to be. The production is heavy & powerful though as in all of the band’s albums. Jacob Hansen (Pyramaze, Tyr, fate, Epysode, etc.) is like an extra member of the band after all those years of cooperation and his work is always remarkable.
Mercenary look as if they did understand what went wrong on their previous release and they are on the verge of fixing things. None can say that “Through Our Darkest Days” ain’t a good album. René has done a very good job on all vocals and he does remind of Mikkel a bit on the clean vocals at times. The guys have come up with some really fine melodies and their heavy parts are very strong indeed. I do miss, apart from Mikkel & Henrik, the gloomy & melancholic atmosphere of their older releases. After the big displeasure with “Metamorphosis”, here they come with a well-run & improved album at every level… that’s the good part of it but… it will actually take some time to heal those “old wounds”…
In any case, this ain’t the only problem with the “new Mercenary”. Unfortunately, they reduced the gloomy & melancholic elements they once had and replaced them with more “modern/metalcore” ones. That’s why the previous work was an actual disappointment in every part. Even the melodies were very bland there. Anyway, the band seemed to have learnt from their previous mistake and they do approach their old sound here, even though the darkness & depression of the “old days” are not present. They may have called the album “Through Our Darkest Days” but this “dark” ain’t so dim or sultry as it used to be. The production is heavy & powerful though as in all of the band’s albums. Jacob Hansen (Pyramaze, Tyr, fate, Epysode, etc.) is like an extra member of the band after all those years of cooperation and his work is always remarkable.
Mercenary look as if they did understand what went wrong on their previous release and they are on the verge of fixing things. None can say that “Through Our Darkest Days” ain’t a good album. René has done a very good job on all vocals and he does remind of Mikkel a bit on the clean vocals at times. The guys have come up with some really fine melodies and their heavy parts are very strong indeed. I do miss, apart from Mikkel & Henrik, the gloomy & melancholic atmosphere of their older releases. After the big displeasure with “Metamorphosis”, here they come with a well-run & improved album at every level… that’s the good part of it but… it will actually take some time to heal those “old wounds”…