ALBUM REVIEW: Insomnia – The Voynich Code
Over the years a particularly popular hockey mask-donning horror icon has taken ownership of Friday the 13th, this year tech deathcore quartet THE VOYNICH CODE intend to knock him off his perch. Their long awaited follow-up to 2017’s debut album Aqua Vitae is now upon us, what does Insomnia bring to the table?
Hypnopompic feels like a countdown clock to the apocalypse, gearing up for a titanic battle as it sets the scene for Slaves To A Machine. It doesn’t take long for the vicious volleys of instrumentation to gush into your ear canals. Monstrous growls, punishing drum rhythms and raucous riffing gel together resulting in an explosive cacophony of chaos. A Flicker Of Life continues the swift aural assault as blast beats run amok bolstered by hefty hooks and haunting synth work. Homecoming immerses you in a dark, menacing soundscape packed full of dangerous implements. The meticulous layering swarms around you, threatening to sink its sharp teeth into your flesh at any given moment.
Insomnia sustains that gritty blackened edge as unrelenting drum sequences join forces with masterfully executed riffing. The orchestral elements amplify the aggressive, rapid nature of the track. It’s quite rare to experience a five-minute instrumental title track situated in the middle of an album but we’re here for it. Hell’s Black Heart bursts into a seismic wave of crushing grooves that make you want to headbang until your skull bursts out of your skin. The track refuses to budge an inch as it surges forth with zero consideration for anything that dares to oppose it. A mouthwatering round of slick lead work adds the exclamation point. The instilled destructive force rubs off on The Art Of War as it insists on getting a piece of the action. The intense energy levels that flow through this track are like a shot of adrenaline straight into your veins – a definitive choice for the gym playlist!
Sleep Paralysis offers up a brief dramatic interlude before resuming the brutality. A Dying Age doesn’t take kindly to the idea of being outshone by its predecessors, delving down into the depths of hell to summon a demonic array of rhythmic annihilation. Barbaric blast beats lead the charge, accompanied by a battalion of boisterous riff segments. A Letter To My Future Self maintains the frenzied pacing that has set the tone throughout. Enticing hooks, sublime lead licks, killer melodies – a fitting finale.
THE VOYNICH CODE may have taken their time to furnish us with a follow-up album but Insomnia is more than worth the wait. This monster of a release builds on the firm foundations established over the years and displays a distinct evolution of their already impressive sound. Deathcore has an insatiable horde of candidates vying for the spotlight but the Portuguese powerhouse have just unearthed their trump card.
Rating: 9/10
Insomnia is out now via Unique Leader Records.
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