Inner Missing - Deluge

Initially formed in 2008 under the moniker “Odium” and hailing from St. Petersburg in Russia, Doom Metal/Gothic/Darkwave duo Inner Missing have just released their eighth studio album, Deluge, on the Inverse Records label. The album’s gorgeous sleeve is full of mystery and is a great snapshot of what lies inside said album: a dark and beautiful musical journey. The Russian duo consists of Sigmund on vocals and guitars, and Melaer on bass and keyboards.

I didn’t know what to expect on my first spin of Deluge, but by the time I was done, I knew I had stumbled upon something special. I won’t be doing a track by track review since this record plays more like a concept album where the eight songs form a whole that feels like one continuous piece divided into different sections. It’s also the kind of album that I will listen to entirely in one sitting going forward, much like the way I do when I put on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon or Wish You Were Here.

The first song, “In the Haze”, really sets up the entire record: a slower-paced, melodic gothic doom metal excursion for the ears. The cover art could be an inspiration to imagine yourself traveling through space aboard a majestic vessel to the sound of piano and guitar-driven melodies, with hints of prog rock cascading throughout the various songs. It’s a poetic and relaxing album, yet at the same time it’s invigorating and full of energy. Deluge was conceived in 2020 at the height of the pandemic and explores themes of uncertainty, dismay, longing, and even hope. The fourth track titled “Locusts” is a proggy instrumental bridging the second half of the album. The sixth cut is the title track, “Deluge”, a song about the weight and burden of memories and remembrance. Number seven, “Elegy”, is a beautifully melancholic piano song with synths. The final track, “Grodek”, is the only non-English song of the album (in German) which surprised me—since the band is Russian, I would’ve expected it to be sung in Russian. If I can trust Google’s German to English translation, it’s about the hard-earned victory of the heroes. Nonetheless, it’s a fitting way to close out the album.

Deluge is a polished album from a seasoned duo of musicians that features harmonious vocals, a continuing wave of guitars and keyboards linking the songs together to shape a gloomy yet quiet atmosphere with infinite replay value. If you’re looking for a different kind of Doom record, something to put on during a drive at night (or on your next trip to space), this 44-minute melodious expedition is bound to quench your desires. Inner Missing have crafted a truly great record that gets my highest recommendation.

Inner Missing’s Bandcamp page: https://innermissing.bandcamp.com/