In Vain is a Nordic extreme metal band founded in 2003. Since their start they have released two self financed EP’s namely Will the Sun ever Rise? And Wounds. Both EP´s have received positive reviews from critics as well as metal fans. These good critics saw too it that In Vain was awarded with best new act in the extreme metal scene. Now they release their first full length album called The Latter Rain which was recorded during spring/summer in DUB studio. This album contains guest performances from up to 20 musicians and guest vocalists like Jan K. Transeth (In the Woods) and Kjetel Nordhus (Trail of Tears and Green Carnation).

I might be prejudiced since I am a huge Black metal fan but this album is really great! The intro is sophisticated, beautiful yet bombastic and swells into a typical black sound which only musicians from Norway can make. The vocals of In Vain are intense and dark but they also use clean vocals which sound really good. The music is solid and contains a lot of melody, firm riffs and has some great passages. You definitely can hear that this band has taken it’s time to produce a quality record because the sound is well balanced and produced. Especially the song October’s Monody is my favourite on this album and contains some pure old fashioned black passages! The last song is called Sorgenfri and has an almost fairytale like character in the beginning end the end. In Vain really shows their qualities on The Latter Rain and in my opinion are truly gifted musicians. The artwork is perfect in order in fits within the music In Vain makes. It has a slumbering and dark character.