ALBUM REVIEW: Corporation – Aviana

Anytime a band member leaves, it feels like a kick in the gut. However, can you imagine how it would feel if all your band members decided to leave? This is what happened to Joel Holmqvist in March 2020. The vocalist of Swedish metalcore band AVIANA was faced with two choices: hang up the microphone, or continue with the band as a now solo project. He chose the latter, and started work on the next album, titled Corporation. However, he doesn’t regard it as an album, more of “a collection of singles.” This is because there are some songs on there that the band have released in 2021 which have now found a home.

The 11-track album starts off with Curriculum, a song which has an electronic beat that is mixed with a choir chorus and heavy guitars. It is an ambitious way to introduce an album; it is clear that this is something unique. Of course, as Corporation is AVIANA‘s third album, they are free to do whatever they like.

Unfortunately, the first song does not flow into the second song, therefore making it pretty useless. However, this is probably a good thing because Obsession blows it out of the park. The vocals are immense, and the unclean vocals lean into deathcore. The electronic elements work extremely well, as do the clean vocals. It is clear that Holmqvist put a lot of love into this album.

Electronic music elements are not normally heard on metalcore songs; in fact, it is only recently that they have been included. Such additions can either help or hinder an album, but thankfully the music helps here on Corporation. This is because – whilst they are listenable – they are cleverly mixed in with the metal music. This also helps give the album a cohesive sound. The pacing of each song is not too long or too short; each track’s runtime is around three minutes on average. This helps the album maintain a frantic fast pace, thanks in turn to the sound of the music.

There are also some standout songs on this album, and two in particular which come to mind. Paradox is a brutal metalcore song that branches into deathcore, whereas Transcendent is a (slightly) calmer rock song with emphasis on clean vocals. However, the two songs fit well on the album thanks again to the production. Furthermore, the different genres show that AVIANA are not afraid to mix things up, which is refreshing to hear on a band’s third album.

Overall, if you are worried that turning AVIANA into a solo project would be a mistake, don’t be. When listening to Corporation, it is easy to forget that this is now a one-man show. The passion that has gone into this album is clear. Despite the first song not really fitting into the rest of the record, this is a fantastic third album. The addition of electronic music adds a twist to the metalcore sound of the album. Furthermore, it shows that AVIANA can mix genres smoothly, which makes the album all the more exciting. This is an ambitious album from a now solo project that is going to take the world by storm.

Rating: 8/10

Corporation is set for release on September 30th via Arising Empire.

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