ALBUM REVIEW: Artificial Void – Unprocessed

Poised for the release of their new album, UNPROCESSED mean business. Over the years, many artists have fallen victim to the ‘curse of the sophomore album,’ whereby expectation from a successful debut stands in the way of quality the second time around. A mere 16 months on from the release of their first full length outing, UNPROCESSED appear determined to prove themselves worthy, and it has to be said that they have warded off the age old phenomenon with absolute ease. Barely out of their teens, they are quickly becoming the latest powerhouse to emerge from their native Germany, largely thanks to their desirable blend of technical noise and shred wizardry.

Artificial Void is a twelve track statement, a stamp of authority across a genre bursting at the seams with a wealth of talent. Their secret formula seems to simply be clinical execution. They haven’t chosen to reinvent the wheel, instead they invoke the spirit of their peers, notably mirroring the likes of ANIMALS AS LEADERS and THE CONTORTIONIST. However, for every nod to the scene’s greats comes an equally novel element. Prototype opens up affairs, cutting to the chase with a blistering start. Energetic fretwork is met with ferocious drumming, offering a first glimpse into the Germans’ skill and as quickly as this stamina begins, it falls into an ambient tenor, before scaling back into a pummelling chorus. This is impactful songwriting, standing above generic metal to leave a refreshing aftertaste.

Large swathes of the album feel like an instrumental, progressive metal epic, such as the introduction to the title track and the uber groovy Ruins. This works well for the most part, but there is the odd section that allows the listener’s attention to drift slightly. That being said, it is a small price to pay for the level of detail on display when the temperature is raised. Fear sits right at boiling point, and helps demonstrate another of the record’s outstanding features. The production. Every single ingredient cuts through the mix perfectly, from the choppy riffs and exhaustive bass work, to dreamlike atmospheric drumming. This polished finish could match any album out there, and really allows the record to shine in a full capacity.

Abandoned is another transcending listen, feeling very much like a TESSERACT chef d’oeuvre. Bass guitar flickers, and the drumming plays havoc with time signatures with true tech metal finesse. This feeling continues into House Of Waters, where jovial riffs continue to battle crushing vocals and lashings of guitar. With this album, UNPROCESSED have included a healthy dose of melodic vocals, which sit snugly alongside the hearty screams. Tracks like Avatar and Antler’s Decay sound like ERRA while jostling back and forth between technical metalcore and more emotive tech. 

Hook after hook holds our attention through these blistering tracks, while the likes of Down The Spine allow us a little space to breath. As mentioned beforehand, some of these quieter moments feel a little underwhelming, but in reality this is because the more brisk sections are so potent. And we never have to wait too long before there is more meat on the bones for us to get our teeth stuck into. Another Sky might take a dreamy, piano driven approach, but outbursts of vigour keep it in fitting with the rest of the album. It’s a wonderful juxtaposition for the patient listener and shows UNPROCESSED as a multi faceted outfit.

The Movements, Their Echoes is a final explosion of passion before Closure sees us out in synthetic, piano riddled bliss. For anybody doubting their ability to impress at the second time of asking, UNPROCESSED have proved their worth at a young age, and there is little question that they are a bright spark in the future of progressive metal.

Rating: 8/10

Artificial Void is set for release August 9th via Long Branch Records.

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