The Hours That Remain

The Hours That Remain is Mercenary's fourth album, on which they broadened their range by crossing the sharpness of melodic death with the melodic heart of power metal. It is the first album after founding member Kral's departure, and with no dedicated death-growl vocalist, Mikkel Sandager's clean vocals occupy almost the entire record. Lyrical, powerful songs like "Redefine Me," "My World Is Ending" and "Year of the Plague" line up. Heaviness, progressive development and melody balance at a high level. Their second album on Century Media, it takes in power metal and progressive elements more deeply than the melodic death of earlier records. Grand, structured songs speak to the band's maturity. The album won Album of the Year at the Danish Metal Awards. A mature record on which the band pushed the melodic side further to the fore. With the death growls stepping back, their dramatic expressiveness stood out all the more. On the next album, growls would return with the arrival of René Pedersen. Melodic heart and heaviness are beautifully reconciled here.