Label: Ardua Music
Release date: February 7th, 2025
Entombed in the abyss of over a decade’s tranquility, Parisian doom-death overlords Inborn Suffering rise once more with “Pale Gray Monochrome”, their long-awaited third lament. Time unraveled into a hollow eternity, so vast that I nearly forgot the spectral brilliance of this band. Yet, let us rekindle the dark flame of their presence.
Born from the smoldering depths of anguish and introspection, Inborn Suffering took form in the early 2000s. Their vision was first conjured in shadow by guitarist Stéphane Peudupin, bassist Emmanuel Ribeiro, and drummer Thomas Rugolino. Soon, their dirges of despair found a spectral voice in Frédéric Simon, solidifying their ranks as a quartet. The band left behind two albums, “Wordless Hope” (2006) and “Regression to Nothingness” (2010), each a haunting testament to the sublime and inevitable darkening of their sound, where despair and melancholy coalesce into a deeply resonant and transformative force. However, as the years unfurled, internal discord and a relentless parade of lineup changes, shadowed by malignant forces, cast them into a prolonged chasm of silence and obscurity.
A decade later, the embers of their craft smoldered once more, calling kindred spirits back into their fold. The original trio was now joined by Laurent Chaulet, who assumed the dual role of vocalist and additional guitarist. United by an unspoken pact to transcend the scars of the past and ignite their art with cold fire, the band forged “Pale Gray Monochrome”. This seven-track odyssey through despair and majesty was meticulously sculpted beneath the deft and unrelenting hands of Déhà at Opus Magnum Studio. Upon its completion in 2024, Inborn Suffering found sanctuary within Ardua Music, sealing their resurrection in both solemnity and triumph.
To dissect “Pale Grey Monochrome” is to immerse oneself in a world painted in sorrowful shades of grey, where the weight of existence drags heavily upon the soul. Inborn Suffering crafts an atmosphere drenched in despair, a soundscape that does not beg comparison but instead demands independent contemplation. While elements of various doom and melo-death metal luminaries may flicker in its depths, attempting to pigeonhole this work is both futile and reductive. “Pale Grey Monochrome” is its own existence, a harrowing journey through grief and longing.
From the outset, the album grips with an eerie unease. The brief yet ominous “Wounding” establishes the atmosphere, its anxious undertones leading seamlessly into the vast expanse of “From Lowering Tides”. The composition sways between heavy, melancholic riffing and moments of near-drowning weightlessness, evoking an oceanic abyss where sorrow seeps into every note.
The title track, “Pale Grey Monochrome”, continues this descent, an aching lament where melody and despair entwine in a suffocating embrace. It is a slow-burning dirge, never hurried, always deliberate, where the funereal undertones begin to creep into the sound.
With “Tales from an Empty Shell”, the album reaches its longest and perhaps most contemplative passage. There are no grandiose flourishes or sudden shifts. There are no grandiose flourishes or sudden shifts. Instead, a steady, unrelenting pulse of misery weaves a hypnotic narrative of loss. Every note feels carefully placed, and every moment draws the listener deeper into solitude.
A brief respite comes in the form of “Of Loss and Despair”, though the title itself suggests that solace is an illusion. This short piece lingers, a breath of cold air before plunging into “The Oak”, perhaps the album’s most overt embrace of funeral doom aesthetics. The crushing weight of this track bears down with an inescapable gravity, its slow tempo and oppressive atmosphere an embodiment of all-consuming grief.
Finally, “Drawing Circles” serves as the melancholic epilogue. Its fading echoes create a sense of emptiness and a longing for more, even as the album fades into silence. The 57-minute experience does not feel fragmented. Moreover, each song forms an integral chapter in a narrative of despair. Listening to individual tracks in isolation diminishes the full effect. The album demands to be experienced in its entirety, allowing the story to unfold with each successive piece.
What “Pale Grey Monochrome” lacks in standout moments, it compensates for with an unwavering sense of purpose. There are no sudden climaxes or cheap thrills. It instead creates an unrelenting, immersive atmosphere that pulls the listener deeper into its bleak embrace. The production is refined yet suffocating, allowing each layer of instrumentation to breathe while maintaining the oppressive weight of the music. Some lead sections may test the listener’s patience, but the sheer depth of emotion and the painstakingly crafted compositions create an experience that resonates deeply. The effort behind this work is undeniable, and its impact is lasting.
This is not an album to be dissected into individual tracks, but one to be experienced as a whole, much like a novel where each chapter seamlessly flows into the next. By the time its final notes fade, what remains is not just melancholy, but the quiet realization that some journeys offer no catharsis. They offer only the silent, inescapable void.
