Author: Primož Novak
Artist: In-Quest
Label: Self-released
Release: year_month
Length: 44:38
Rating: 4.5/5
Belgium’s metal scene has never really stood out, apart from Aborted. There aren’t many bands like that coming out of the country itself, either. But every now and then an exception turns up. I’m talking about In-Quest, who’ve put out 6 albums and 2 EPs in their 20 years together. The band started out as death metal, then later branched out into other genres. Above all, they took a more technical approach, though not in the Necrophagist style, but more in the vein of Meshuggah and maybe Gojira.
The Odyssey of Eternity is, above all, the natural progression from the last three albums (Epileptic, Comatose Quandaries and Made Out of Negative Matter). This time the band decided not to spotlight the fast songs, but to put groove and technique first. The reason is that they’ve switched to eight-string guitars, which these days aren’t about speed so much as groove, heavy slow sections, unusual breakdowns and the occasional (non-)melodic passage.
Despite all the modernity, you couldn’t just toss In-Quest in the same bucket as the djent bands. Sure, djent bands also build a lot on atmosphere with the help of assorted electronic touches, but In-Quest go about it differently. For most of the album, a second guitar rides alongside the rhythm guitar, serving up hypnotic melodies and solos. That gives the punchy riffs, the dynamic rhythm section and the aggressive vocals, which torment the vocal cords much like Jens Kidman (Meshuggah), that unique something that makes the band special. In-Quest don’t lean on any bouncier rhythms; with their morbid vibe, it feels like they’re describing some dystopia in the near future. They only pick up the pace on Neo-Pseudo Existence, which gives the album that slightly older death metal flavor. The album hits its peak with the closing track Yearn to Return, which is truly aggressive with a heavy groove that plenty of deathcore bands could take as a lesson.
Odyssey of Eternity, which took 4 years to make, is without a doubt an excellent achievement. It stands apart from many of today’s djent bands. The sound isn’t sterile either, thanks to the band recording the guitars through analog amps. Odyssey of Eternity is a record with power, modernity and atmosphere. The only shame is that the band recently announced they’re going on hold until further notice.
Line-up
MiQe Löfberg – vocals
Douglas Verhoeven – lead guitar
Gert Monden – drums
Korre Lauwereins – rhythm guitar
Frederick Peeters – bass
Production
Jochem Jacobs
Tracklist
1. Enter Eternity Of Lethargy
2. Taedium Vitae
3. Elliptical Orbits In Disbelief
4. Reiterated Cycles Of Celestial Spheres
5. Neo-Pseudo Existence
6. Infinite Sleep For The Hollow
7. The Algorhythmic Alignments
8. Yearn To Return [Liquidation Fails]
