ALBUM REVIEW: In Human Form - "Opening of the Eye by Death of the I"

By Brandon Green

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 23/06/2017

Label: I, Voidhanger Records

The complexity of the songwriting on all of the tracks leaves the listener discovering many layers over multiple listens. This band has some serious talent, and absolutely deserves your time. A massively unique release weaving together so many influences it’s difficult to quantify them all.  This is excellent music, and I can’t wait for future releases from this band.

“Opening of the Eye by Death of the I” CD//DD track listing:

1). Le délire des negations

2). All Is Occulted by Swathes of Ego

3). Apollyon Synopsis

4). Zenith Thesis, Abbadon Hypothesis

5). Ghosts Alike

6). Through an Obstructionist's Eye

The Review:

After their first full length album in 2013, “Earthen Urn”, which was independently released, it was clear the New England outfit had an extremely unique and captivating direction for their black metal sound. Taking a more progressive approach with massively complex-yet-catchy song structures, In Human Form have mastered their craft and continue to surprise. Fast forward to 2017, In Human Form has outdone themselves with an absolutely fantastic release packed full with aggression, prog, and jazz-fueled black metal. The new album, “Opening of the Eye by the Death of the I”, is every bit as raw, introspective, and evil sounding as some of my favorite black metal records. I’ve personally lost count to how many times I’ve listened to this release.

6 tracks in length, the album is mostly constructed with three longer (~15 min) epic tracks with instrumental compositions in between. Overall, the album flows amazingly well given the extremely complicated song structures. The record has many introspective as well as meditative moments among the scorching black metal sections, and the vocal performance on these songs are impressive with Patrick Dupras’ throaty black metal screams and carefully written lyrics/patterns about mortality and mysticism. Nick Clarke’sguitar work is masterfully crafted with an amazing balance of progressive and jazz tinged compositions among the beastly black metal sections. The drum work, although frequently mid-paced, is mind-numbingly complicated and tight throughout, and the bass riffs are carefully constructed to pop and compliment everything in chaotic harmony. The nonlinear approach is highly welcomed on this release, and frankly blows my mind how In Human Form crafts their music and keeps the music paced extremely well. My favorite song is “Through an Obstructionist’s Eye”, which is the album closer.  The opening riff is massively catchy, and the song goes in so many amazing and unthinkable directions a black metal band would typically care to venture.

I’ve had the pleasure of catching In Human Form live a few times where they performed many of the tracks from the new record, and these songs are played with every bit of mastery as they were recorded. The complexity of the songwriting on all of the tracks leaves the listener discovering many layers over multiple listens. This band has some serious talent, and absolutely deserves your time. A massively unique release weaving together so many influences it’s difficult to quantify them all.  This is excellent music, and I can’t wait for future releases from this band.

“Opening of the Eye by the Death of the I” drops on June 23, 2017 on I, Voidhanger Records and is available here

FFO: Ihsahn, Enslaved, Ephel Duath, Death, Frank Zappa

Band info: bandcamp || facebook