SOLILOQUIUM is a Doom/Death Metal band from Stockholm, Sweden.  "Things We Leave Behind," is the third full length from the band.  They have also released a Demo, two EPs, and a compilation.   I actually reviewed their previous album, "Contemplations," back in 2018. So how does their latest album, "Things We Leave Behind," fair?  Pretty damn well because I find the album to be much more dynamic than its predecessor.  The pacing is also much better this time, with a better balance between slower moments and faster tempo pieces.  The album's atmosphere is also very deep-this album is one that makes you think or even question things that have happened to you or your past.  As a person who has partaken in therapy numerous times, I found this album both relaxing and exhilarating at the same time.

The opening track, "Dead Ends," is one hell of a way to begin the album because it exemplifies well what I just said.  The mid paced crunchy riffs set in a nice Doom atmosphere but the melody from the lead guitar adds in a sense of urgency that Death/Doom often avoids.  Guest vocalist  Joakim Rudemyr (of DESOLATOR and WITHIN THE FALL fame), adds an extra layer of broken down melancholy while Stefan's own Death grows set a dangerous tone that makes the songs song sound a bit anxiety ridden.  This song is an intense experience but worthwhile one as well.

Joakim returns for the third track, "Reminiscence." I wouldn't be opposed to him providing even more vocals for the band in the future, as his style works so well with Stefan's. This particular track gives me slight Prog vibes in the beginning, as it sounds very different from the tracks before it.  Clean guitar, his vocals, and a more methodical drum approach add a different view point the band's music. The death growls that accompany the rest of the song sound truly sad and tortured, working in tandem with the guitar's melodic leads and riffs.  The last few minutes of the song are sans vocals, every player just confident in their abilities, and trust with each other, to jam out some damn good atmospheric Doom.

"It Was All Taken Away," is one of the album's highlights due to the standout, melodic bass that provides a gloomy foundation. The clean, sparse instrumentation, with the bass taking the reins, just works amazingly well with those deep growls.  The song picks up afterwards and then proceeds to switch back and forth between heavy and lighter moments but never loses its flow or go too far off the path. The final track, "The Recluse," is perhaps the best song on the album.  It just straight up nails the elements between Doom, Death, and Melody.  The instrumentation paints a picture of a struggling individual who wants to come out of his or her shell but just can't seem to come to terms with the battle within.  Perhaps that is not what the song is about but the beauty of this album is that it can put thoughts and entire scenarios into your head.  There are several quiet, more introspective moments within the song, a reason to learn to listen to the silence because, perhaps, that is when emotions, and life itself, are the loudest.