ALBUM REVIEW: Hyperviolence – Windwaker
Australian unit WINDWAKER are impossible to pin down. And with a mix of genres so thick you couldn’t stir it, Hyperviolence is the perfect example of how they won’t just let you put them in a box.
The band already have a dedicated fanbase, hard-earned from their wide exploration of sound and their incredible effort of a debut concept album Love Language. The good news is the fanbase will not be disappointed with Hyperviolence, which once again showcases WINDWAKER’s ability to keep a theme running for 13 tracks, without it becoming stale. Hyperviolence explores the highlights and lowlights of an introverted and extroverted lifestyle in the form of a conversation. The result? An album heavy with heartfelt lyricism and energetic tracks.
It kicks off as it intends to go on, with a powerhouse of a track in Infinity. The track is a darker one, working through the vulnerability of opening yourself up just to risk rejection. It veers between heavy drum beats and heartfelt vocals layered over choir sounds, and with lines like “You wait so long but then all they do is walk away” it’s one that is destined to get an electric reaction when played live. It’s followed by Sirens, which is catchy enough to ensure you’re not going to get it out of your head any time soon. The track bounces back and forth between a pop-friendly chorus filled with “Girls on white horses, with angelic voices” and heavy, screamed verses that are sure to fill the pits. Plus, with a breakdown that grabs you by the throat, Sirens truly has something for everyone, and is a testament to WINDWAKER’s versatility.
Next up is Fractured State, which comes at you at a pace that could knock the breath right out of you. With hyperpop-influenced sound effects, near-rapped verses, guttural screams filled with venom, and lyrics like “All these knives digging into my fractured state of mind” this is one of the heavier tracks on the album. Lyrically, Villain is one of WINDWAKER’s hardest-hitting tracks. With lines like “If I am the one thing you are holding on to, I can’t hold onto you” and “You are just a passing wave in the water”, it has some extremely dark moments. Sound-wise, it matches up to this too, with some of the band’s most experimental moves yet. In one memorable section, the track builds tension by stripping back to just synth and haunting vocals before layering in aggressive whispers, putting you on an uncomfortable edge until it’s over. In short, it’s a track that stays with you long after it finishes.
Another standout track is Venom. At just over four minutes, it’s the longest track on Hyperviolence, and in this time it covers a lot of ground. With clear hip-hop influence, the first section of Venom is a lot less heavy than others on the album, which for other, less versatile bands could be a bit risky. Luckily, for WINDWAKER it’s a risk that pays off. The simpler, less explosive lyrics work well on Venom as it’s a quick one to pick up and chant along to, which will easily win over anyone not sure about the difference in sound. Then, just when you think you’ve got the track nailed down, at the midway point, WINDWAKER swap out the hip-hop vibe for a mellow interlude before finishing up with a final breakdown. It’s a track that’s got it all, and the bouncy beat makes it hard not to hit replay as soon as it’s finished.
On the other side of Venom is Juliet, a two-minute ballad that closes out Hyperviolence. It lays on the electro influence heavily, with auto-tuned vocals repeating “None of it matters at all”, and the contrast between the vulnerable, revealing lyrics and the altered, electronic sounds makes it a track that hooks you in and truly sit back to listen. When it really kicks in with nostalgic near-dubstep sounds, over clean, emotional vocals, it perfectly polishes off an album that shows you the beauty of bringing together polar opposites.
Hyperviolence has the energy of a band about to make it big. The way WINDWAKER effortlessly play with genre and sound and can work deeply vulnerable topics into unavoidably catchy tracks pays off massively here. If Hyperviolence is a sign of things to come, there’s going to be a lot of people listening soon.
Rating: 10/10
Hyperviolence is set for release on July 12th via Fearless Records.
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