Review: Imperishable – Swallowing The World
“Swallowing The World” is classic Swedish melodic death metal, where riffs are razor-sharp, hooks are aggressive, and the spirit of the old Stockholm school looms large. And for the most part, it delivers. The band out of Gothenborg don’t waste time with pretense: from the opening salvo of “Bells,” it’s clear that Imperishable are here to cut the fat and go straight for the throat. The album’s strengths lie in its ability to balance the familiar with the fresh, blending the kind of melodic death metal that made bands like Dismember and At the Gates legends with a modern, slightly blackened edge. The riffs are tight, the solos are fiery, and the production is crisp enough to let every note cut through without sacrificing the raw energy that makes this style so compelling. Songs like “Blood to Bleed” and “Riding Demons” are standouts, their blend of speed, melody, and just the right amount of groove making them instant pit-starters.
“Swallowing The World” starts to stumble into the pitfalls of its own ambition in the middle of the runtime. The pacing gets uneven, with some tracks like the mid-tempo “Cenothaph of Dreams” losing momentum in favor of overly playful arrangements that disrupt the flow. While it’s admirable that Imperishable aren’t content to just churn out another by-the-numbers melodeath record, some of these detours feel more like distractions than innovations. The closing stretch of the album, in particular, struggles to maintain the energy of its stronger first half, leaving you with the sense that Imperishable had the potential to craft something truly special but settled for “very good” instead.
Still, when “Swallowing The World” hits its stride, it’s a reminder of why melodic death metal endures. The band’s ability to weave together crushing riffs, soaring leads, and a sense of unrelenting forward motion is impressive, and there’s a palpable enthusiasm in their performance that’s hard to resist. The album’s high points like the relentless “Where No One Survives” or the title track’s sprawling, apocalyptic closer prove that Imperishable are more than capable of standing toe-to-toe with their influences. But the record’s inconsistencies keep it from reaching the upper echelons of the genre. It’s a solid, often thrilling listen, but one that leaves you wondering what might have been if the band had tightened the reins just a bit more.
