An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (Review)

This is the third album from Swedish atmospheric death metal band An Abstract Illusion.

Now here’s a very highly anticipated album. The Sleeping City is An Abstract Illusion’s follow up to their highly acclaimed 2022 album Woe, which was so good it made it onto my year end list. Yes, expectations are high for this record, but there’s also trepidation too – how can An Abstract Illusion possibly meet the high standards they have now set for themselves?

Interestingly, they don’t try to repeat themselves, instead opting for something similar, but different. The Sleeping City is not a rehash of Woe, (probably wisely), but it does share DNA with its predecessor. It’s more like a different facet of themselves that An Abstract Illusion are exploring, one based on the same core framework.

Across its 61 minutes of music The Sleeping City has a greater focus on synth-driven atmosphere and on progressive rock/metal accoutrements, (think things such as keyboard solos, more clean singing, etc.), and less on overt melodic leads and metallic riff-fuelled weight. The band adopt an altered course when it comes to songwriting because of this. The style is a mood-rich hybrid form of progressive death metal, with blackened enhancements and a a focus on emotional depth and atmospheric immersion. Bolstered by guests who provide strings and extra vocals, The Sleeping City is accomplished and detailed.

The songs are epic, involved, intricate, and technical, blending multiple ingredients to create a feast for the listener to gorge themselves on. The material is multifaceted and layered, and it’s clear that a lot of time, energy, and passion has gone into this. Apparently the intention was for the album to have an 80s dystopian sci-fi soundtrack feel, and this intention has been well-realised. An Abstract Illusion’s new songs drip with evocative atmosphere and absorbing worldbuilding. The songs are awash with synths, which saturate everything in feeling, bringing it to life. Of course, it’s an extreme metal album ultimately, no matter how luscious it might be, so the band know how to be heavy and aggressive too. There are moments of brutal heaviness here and there, and plenty of progressive intensity.

If I had to complain about anything, it would be the production – while certainly not awful, I can’t help but feel it would benefit from a more expansive, tailored sound. There’s a lot going on in these songs, and sometimes you can’t hear it all as well as you’d want. It’s certainly not enough of an issue to ruin the album, but it is a little frustrating sometimes.

Despite this minor issue, The Sleeping City is a tour de force. It’s not an instant record, and demands attention, given over time, to truly tease out its manifold strengths. Don’t go into this expecting Woe 2.0, but conversely don’t expect a radical departure either; An Abstract Illusion continue to walk their chosen progressive pathways, and navigate their journey with skill and grace.

Time will tell whether I come to hold The Sleeping City in as high esteem as I do Woe, (I suspect not, but I’m happy to be wrong, and that was always quite unlikely), so I look forward to getting to know this new album even more over time. Until then, I urge you to check out what An Abstract Illusion are offering, as it’s more than worth your time.