ALBUM REVIEW: Soul Rot – Artio
ARTIO are an entirely self-produced alt-rock band from Leeds, formed in 2018, who are rapidly making a name for themselves, standing out for their lyricism and almost haunting but captivating sound. Within two albums, their career has been on a steady rise, slowly turning heads and gaining attention. Their third studio album, Soul Rot, seems set to be their most promising release yet, with a now polished image, a sound that is firmly rooted in the British alt-rock scene, and features from genre favourites such as AS IT IS and CODY FROST. Just in time for a UK tour and an appearance at Takedown festival, this may be the release to take ARTIO to the next level.
The album opens with The Devil You Know (Feat. CODY FROST), and it is instantly clear this album is going to be different: possibly darker, and undoubtedly heavier. Expectations are high from the start, and the beautifully poetic lyricism in the very first song is exactly what is to be expected from ARTIO based off their previous music. The lyrics set the tone for the album, brutally honest, angsty and dramatic. CODY FROST is known for their unique vocals, and they blend perfectly with the voice from ARTIO‘s Rae Brazill. The guitars are relentless, and as synths are introduced at the end, already the precedent is set that this album is going to be a little different. Soul Rotting is a short but impactful interlude, creating the feeling that the album is a coherent concept, and prolonging the wait of what is to come.
Bite Down stands out as a clear favourite from the start, reminiscent of what many other alt-rock bands are doing at the moment, but with a catchy hook and unique enough to stand out. Not every band can pull off lyrics more on the sensual side, but ARTIO are making it work. Full On Fight For Fun (Feat. AS IT IS) is packed full of feeling, with addictive guitars and next-level vocals from Ben Biss and Patty Walters. This is a sound that really works for them, and something they really should do more often. With multiple vocalists on this song, it all meshes together really well while still sounding cohesive, and honestly, the song ended way too quickly. Another really cool feature is in If Only They Had More Chance To Take Flight (Feat. CJ of LOVE RARELY), another band on the radar right now. The layered vocals take it to the next level, and the heavier sound feels like a release after building up for a while.
In a bit of a change of pace, O Negative feels like the anger has subsided, a least for a minute, into a desperate kind of helpless sadness. Like a little insight into the writer’s mindset, accompanied with a beautiful instrumental, you’re left with a pit in your chest, which is extremely powerful. Once again proving their range, Death Stems (Feat. GOODNIGHTTHESKYE) changes things up when you think you know what to expect. A beautiful display of slam poetry, this song is both compelling and entirely gut wrenching. The lyrics are a standout with pretty much every song on the album, but here, the depth of emotion is so beautifully put that it’s almost disappointing there isn’t more like this.
Of course, the anger wasn’t gone for long, and the vitriolic Let It Be A Void creates a multi-dimensional picture, with a chorus that will absolutely stay in your mind. The bridge has a completely unique sound, taking the song to an entirely new place. The album ends with Room Tone, a track perfectly summing up everything ARTIO have been aiming for in this album, with an almost perfect ending, which is both delicate and heartbreaking.
If it hasn’t been made glaringly obvious already, their lyricism is what makes ARTIO stand apart from anything else, balancing incredible depth and insight while avoiding pretentiousness. If you weren’t already paying attention to ARTIO, after listening to Soul Rot, you will surely be converted.
Rating: 9/10
Soul Rot is out now via LAB Records.
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