Against I – Songs For The Dying

Against I’s Songs For The Dying is an ambitious blend of Industrial, Black, Death, and Thrash Metal influences that comes together in one of the most dynamic albums of the year. This Swedish trio—Anders Ström (drums), Mathias Back (guitars), and Fredrik Keith Croona (vocals)—delivers an 11-track, 43-minute journey that’s as dark as it is engaging.

From start to finish, Songs For The Dying feels like a masterclass in how to blend genres without losing authenticity. Every track has its own identity, but common threads hold the album together. The black metal-inspired vocals from Croona are a constant throughout—harsh, aggressive, and dripping with intensity—while the instrumental arrangements borrow elements from multiple genres, seamlessly weaving them into something entirely their own.

The opener, Bound in Blood, sets the tone with a slow, chugging death metal riff backed by a relentless double bass beat. It’s impossible not to nod along as the track builds. Midway through, guttural vocals briefly take the stage, offering a glimpse into the album’s death metal influences.

Depraved Lust, the second track, steps up the atmospheric elements with a chilling blend of guitars, drums, and haunting background effects that demand a replay. The mid-tempo pace is deceptively hypnotic, layered with eerie “spectre” sounds and a mix of gutturals and raspy black metal vocals that keep you hooked.

By the third track, A Hymn For The End, the industrial influence comes to the forefront, only to transition into thrash-inspired riffs. What begins as an aggressive industrial intro soon levels out into a melodic groove that’s become a signature of Against I’s sound. The variety is a standout feature of this album, and it continues to surprise with each track.

Later in the album, Judgement of the Damned unleashes a death metal riff that feels like a nod to the genre’s forefather, Chuck Schuldiner. It’s a track that highlights the band’s ability to bring together heavy influences in a way that feels cohesive rather than forced.

What makes Songs For The Dying truly remarkable is its ability to mix these influences without sounding gimmicky. The album doesn’t feel like a deliberate attempt to create a “cross-genre” record—it feels natural, authentic, and unrestrained. Whether it’s the industrial beginnings, blackened vocals, or death-inspired riffs, everything works together seamlessly.

This isn’t just an album of standout tracks—it’s one you play from start to finish without skipping a beat. Against I has crafted a no-skip album that works as a complete experience. While I wouldn’t go so far as to call this a masterpiece, it’s easily one of the most enjoyable “just put it on and let it play” albums I’ve heard this year.