Floating - Hesitating Lights - review
Floating - Hesitating Lights - review
Tracklist
01. I Reached The Mew02. Grave Dog
03. Cough Choir
04. Exit Bag Song
05. Hesitating Lights / Harmless Fires
06. Still Dark Enough
07. The Wrong Body
08. The Waking
A review by
AndyMetalFreak July 25, 2025
Swedish death metal has come a long way since the likes of Entombed, Dismember, and Grave first emerged onto the scene back in the early 90s. There are still a few bands that follow the same basic OSDM formula, from ripping buzzsaw guitars to delicious headbanging grooves, but many simply find this approach outdated and predictable. On the other hand, many recently formed bands have taken much bolder steps to embrace the ever-changing scene by merging modern and old-school elements together. One of these bands is the peculiarly named Swedish duo Floating.
Floating emerged in 2022, consisting of Arvid Sjödin (guitars/vocals/synths) and Andreas Hörmark (bass/synths), and they released their full-length debut The Waves Have Teeth the same year. On the debut, they developed a unique style that blended progressive death metal with post-punk, without straying too far from the classic Swedish OSDM roots. This became a successful formula, setting themselves apart from the crowd and also setting a high benchmark to follow. The duo had already demonstrated their musicianship capabilities and a high level of maturity in their songwriting, but now they return 3 years later hoping to take the next step up with sophomore release Hesitating Lights.
On this latest album, Floating have opted for a more varied and accomplished follow-up, making sure each of the 8 songs have equal memorability, and with no fixed or predictable structures. The result is a fresh and original take on modern death metal that's unlike anything you've heard, or will likely hear, from any other band. The striking combination of death metal and post-punk that was evident on the debut is once again on display throughout this album. However, things are taken a step further this time, with a wider range of elements and influences crammed into the relatively short 35-minute duration, some of which will surprise even the most open-minded listeners that are well accustomed to the more experimental side of extreme metal.
Whereas the debut took death metal to new experimental heights, Floating takes that experimentation to the next level on Hesitating Lights, and not in the dissonant or technical ways that bands such as Gorguts opt for either. This is actually a highly melodic album that's surprisingly easy on the ears, and certainly less frustrating to absorb in a single take. The main stand-out feature has to be the heavy use of keys and synths, as these provide some spine-chilling atmospheric moments, but also contain some striking enchanting melodies that bring a touch of 80s gothic rock, particularly when used during the various softer instrumental passages. Combining gothic elements with death metal is something that's rarely been heard of, but I find this approach hugely satisfying, as it brings a fresh and lighter tone to what's usually a more brutal and uneasy genre on the ears.
It's debatable as to whether Floating should even be considered a death metal band, as the only constant feature related to death metal throughout this album is the monstrous death growls. They defy the odds of being labeled under a specific genre by covering a wide range of influences, from blackened and progressive death, to gothic and post-punk. Its diversity and unpredictability leads to an exciting and engaging listen filled with powerful emotion, dark atmospheric settings, and even enough groove to get you in the mood to party like a wild animal. This is certainly the way forward if they want to really make their mark on the modern death metal scene.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 7 |
Written on 25.07.2025 by
Written on 25.07.2025 by
An honest review that you don't necessarily have to agree with. Comments
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Posts: 3554
Think I'm liking this album a lot more than other users on the site. Really refreshing blend of genres, and I'll definitely have to check out the debut. Agree it's kinda debatable whether this is even death metal.
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