The Sleeping City
A new phase for Swedish progressive metal
An Abstract Illusion is one of those bands that understand that metal can be both technical and emotional at the same time. With The Sleeping City, they take it a step further: a progressive death metal record that dives into a more melodic and atmospheric sound with blackened nuances, showing a band that evolves without losing its identity. It’s a work that feels modern, detailed, and bold in its sonic choices.
A new path after Woe
It’s impossible not to compare The Sleeping City with its predecessor, Woe, an album that placed the band among the great names of the genre. However, the new work doesn’t attempt to repeat a successful formula, on the contrary, the band deliberately takes a different direction. While Woe was more focused on weight and emotional density, The Sleeping City bets on a more textural and progressive experience, where every sound is built with intention and patience. It’s an album that shows a band in full confidence, unafraid of change.
'Blackmurmur', an opening of atmosphere and tension
Right from the opening with 'Blackmurmur', the difference is already clear. The album begins with synthesizer arpeggios that build an immersive atmosphere, evoking a sense of dystopian science fiction. It’s an introduction that grows slowly, with a sense of controlled combustion, a melody that expands little by little, setting the stage for what’s to come. The track creates an immersive and melancholic mood, more focused on building ambiance than on immediate impact.
Atmosphere and progressiveness at the forefront
One of the most striking aspects of The Sleeping City is its focus on the atmospheric and progressive side of the band’s sound. The synthesizers take center stage, functioning almost as a narrative instrument. The electronic textures and spatial arrangements coexist with intricate riffs and drums, but here the weight is less about brute force and more about creating atmosphere. The production is clean, allowing every detail, from the layers of keyboards to the alternating vocals, to breathe within the mix.
The power of the voice: aggression and melody
Vocalist Christian Berglönn delivers an impressive performance, exploring a wide variety of styles. The growls and screams carry the vigor characteristic of death metal, while the clean vocals add contrast and emotion. This versatility is one of the album’s pillars, helping sustain the balance between technical precision and melody. At certain moments, the clean vocals sound almost introspective, while the gutturals bring back raw energy and this constant alternation keeps the listener on edge.
'Frost Flower', the moment to breathe
Among the tracks, 'Frost Flower' stands out as one of the album’s most memorable moments. Slower and centered around a strong clean vocal melody, it represents a deliberate departure from the band’s heavier core. It’s a song that highlights the emotional side of An Abstract Illusion, and perhaps the most accessible one on the record. The construction is careful and organic, every note seems chosen to reinforce the feeling of isolation and melancholic beauty. It’s the song that best captures the spirit of the album: intensity and delicacy coexisting in the same space.
An experience of immersion and renewal
In the end, The Sleeping City feels like a moment of renewal for An Abstract Illusion. The band doesn’t abandon heaviness or technique but finds new ways to express them. The use of synthesizers gives texture and depth to the sound, while the compositions preserve the soul of Scandinavian progressive metal. It’s a work that demands attention and rewards those who surrender to its flow.
More than just a sequence of tracks, The Sleeping City is an artistic statement: an album that prefers to expand its horizons rather than repeat formulas. It’s a mature, dense, and carefully crafted work, the kind of record that proves metal still has plenty of room to evolve without losing its soul.
