Incendium's 4th demo was created during the dark nights of Winter 2005/2005 and it can be heard. 'Infection' opens the demo with dark heavy metal and melancholic atmosphere is set straight from the start. Aki Hahto's vocals are also very diverse; at times he sounds a bit like Damien Wilson (ex-Threshold, Star One), only stronger, next second he growls like Diablo's Rainer Nygård. The song itself is a good opener, because it's catchy as hell.

'Sad One in the Mirror' travels into more Scandinavian soundscapes (pick melancholic bits from In Flames, Amorphis, Insomnium and such and you're pretty close). 'Stim of Misery' begins with acoustic guitar, but soon grows into Swallow The Sun style dimensions, except the vocals are all clean, now reminding me of The Cure's Robert Smith. 'Black Hole' is the next song that brings in something new, being a heavy rocker. While there's still dark elements, the song is just too different in my opinion. The sound on the demo is good and pretty punching, but still demo-ish, lacking in treble.

Incendium are skillful team (Mr. Hahto being a colourful frontman, at least vocals-wise that is, I've never seen the band in action) and can create a good song, but lack that spark of uniqueness, that would really lift them up from that infamous grey mass. Fans of darkened Finnish metal should enjoy this one without a doubt. They've definitely done a good effort, once again, and it might not be for long when we'll hear their debut album.

Reviewed by Lane
07/04/2006 16:41