ALBUM REVIEW: Illusional Gates – Insolvency
INSOLVENCY have an innate ability to astound. Their second full-length album, Illusional Gates is a dark, spiralling window into the collective headspace of INSOLVENCY, delivered through vocalist Valentin Gondouin‘s visceral gravitas. It bluntly and directly addresses their struggles with mental health in a pandemic-ridden world and offers a glimpse of the light on the other side.
INSOLVENCY made an understated debut in the shape of 2018’s Antagonism Of The Soul, which presented a tech-metal band unsure of where they stood – a bedroom project that became far more than the sum of its parts over time. Illusional Gates however is a far more assertive release, utilising the relatability of dwindling loneliness-induced mental health (a large part of the album was recorded using remote tools) and their new-found knowledge of music industry trends.
The likes of Blindness and Last Call hark back to the unbridled force and melodic resonance of early BURY TOMORROW, with the complementary, balladic electro-textures of ARCHITECTS scattered towards the final moments of each track. Another Fate is heartily dedicated to WHILE SHE SLEEPS, with a languishing gang vocal intro, glitch-heavy pre-chorus rollouts, and sing-screamed passages that induce a body-wide goosebump wave. There are exciting elements of left-field breakdown rhythms, guitar drop-outs and minimalistic yet effective soloing that pepper the record that show, despite the modern metalcore comparisons being apparent, INSOLVENCY aren’t against combining their wealth of post-hardcore, classic rock and tech-metal influences to write and perform compelling tracks that subvert genre-wide expectations.
The staccato piano hammers and tuneful low-end vocals in Stranger World carry the perfect amount of momentum into a drum-heavy chorus passage, that indulges in reducing the album’s tempo, creating breathing space. Oversight presents itself as an upbeat foray into classic metal roots and Fade And Flow closes the album with an electro-heavy hark back to early-00s metalcore, brimming with nostalgia and Gondouin‘s thunderous lungs, embracing the choral power of gang vocals with overlaid screaming.
With the heaving dual presence of Ryan Kirby (FIT FOR A KING) on The Endless Maze and CJ McMahon (THY ART IS MURDER) on Smother The Candle, it is evident that INSOLVENCY want to expand their sound and its appeal to a wider audience. Harnessing the decorated company to not only embellish the tracks with their contorted growls and fury, but to also implicate a house-name musician in their release campaign. This tactical manoeuvre evidences growth as a band, and a deep understanding of what it takes to get your voice heard in the crowded metalcore climate.
The crisp production marks a welcome departure from 2018’s Antagonism Of The Soul, which although musically rich and technically insurmountable, fell short as a debut. Illusional Gates’ more all-encompassing and crowd pleasing approach to songwriting marks it a huge step forward for the French outfit.
Illusional Gates captures a distinct moment in time; written within a world at the whims of a volatile, unknown virus and capturing each moment of anxiety in gripping detail. INSOLVENCY lean on escapism to tackle their harsh reality, and in doing so lay veritable foundations for future work to showcase what is on the other side of hardship.
Rating: 7/10
Illusional Gates is out now via self-release.
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