In Vain
Biography In Vain
In Vain
A raging tempest is not known for equally offering clarity of precision and a seductive expanse of temptation. But then the maelstrom of creative imagination which breeds within In Vain is like no other. Since making their impressive mark with two early EPs, the band has continually exposed the metal world to a form of inventive progressive extreme metal. Veined by diverse flames of melodic and impassioned persuasion, which is persistently impacting for thoughts and inciting upon emotions.
Signing with Indie Recordings in 2005 In Vain startled and enraptured the metal world with debut album “The Latter Rain” two years later. It was an epic project involving close to 20 guest musicians and several guest vocalists including the legendary Jan K. Transeth (ex-In the Woods...) and Kjetil Nordhus (Tristania, ex-Green Carnation, ex-Trail of Tears). The release immediately had the music press united in acclaiming its ground-breaking classic status.
A successful European tour alongside Battered and label mates Vreid followed as well as performances at numerous festivals such as the Inferno Festival, before the band settled into starting work on their second album. Released in 2010, "Mantra" thrust the band to the higher echelons of extreme metal alongside the heavyweights of the genre. The album held the breath and heart of their previous releases, but took them and their invention into new explorations of every aspect of their songwriting. Again critical plaudits were enthusiastic with quotes like…“This highly agile and expansive “Mantra” should be on your 'best of 2010' list if you are a metal fan with a shred of openness to a few things non-metallic.” -www.chroniclesofchaos.com …a constant response.
2013 saw In Vain unveil their most innovative and versatile work to date. Third album “Ænigma” took eight rich and expansive tracks borne of In Vain’s unique trademarked sound honed into a towering and inventively provocative fire of uncompromising pleasure. Mixed and produced by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Soilwork, Borknagar, etc.), the album as previous releases featured guest appearances from musicians bringing their exceptional craft and passion across a variety of instruments such as strings and horns, artists such as Lazare and Cornelius from Solefald.
The songs on “Ænigma”, as is the norm with In Vain’s creativity, covered a wide range of musical styles, with the core of its music still firmly based in the passion of extreme metal. It brought to light intensely focused songs which set the release apart from their former albums and the band in its own unique plateau within the genre. This view was shared and devoured by fans and the critical media alike, and the album was set high on a horde of Best of Year lists for 2013.
In January 2018, more than 10 years after their grand debut, In Vain returned with their fourth album Currents. Without question, Currents is the definite pinnacle of In Vain’s career so far. Unique, innovative and catchy compositions with longevity that merge elements from many different genres, whilst still maintaining a carefully balanced dynamic. In Vain retains a principal focus on solid songwriting with cleverness and an original edge. Top notch musicianship in all ranks and a sublime guest performance on drums by Baard Kolstad (Official). Add to that a stellar, organic production tweaked to perfection by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Katatonia, Devin Townsend, Kreator, etc) at Fascination Street Studios.
The album title, Currents, reflects on the colossal shifts and changes of our time. The present world is characterized by continental flows of people, traditions and cultures. Migration of people across continents and borders. Cultures merging. Dramatic shifts in lifestyle from one generation to the next. These are all currents - movements that distort old patterns, create tensions as well as new opportunities. These enduring shifts are some of the topics that In Vain addresses on Currents through a series of epic and monumental songs.
Currents also echoes In Vain’s musical landscape. Since its inception, the band has developed its own trademark sound through extensive exploration and seamless combination of musical genres. Currents goes to new extremes when it comes to further developing this approach. The music and lyrics of the album unite to form its own creative Current; A rich synthesis underlining the very idea of cultural and musical merging, and the album concept and artistic vision has been captured brilliantly by cover designer Costin Chioreanu (Paradise Lost, Enslaved, At The Gates, etc) and his stunning artwork.
The backdrop for the album has been a rigorous artistic and spiritual expedition across the world. Songwriter Johnar Håland comments: “Since the release of Ænigma we have been unknotting threads, followed traces, found disparities and drawn new parallels. In search of both lyrical and spiritual inspiration for Currents we embarked on a journey that took us across several continents. We have put the utmost of our hearts, souls and minds into Currents and we are sincerely grateful to everyone involved in this massive musical undertaking.” Singer Sindre Nedland adds: “Through all the experimentation, In Vain has always had a solid foundation in aggression and melody, and Currents sees these two extremes united in a way that feels unforced, and pretty damn authoritative at the same time. It has been a long and hard process, but the result is everything we hoped it would be: Catchy, intense and unusual.”
