Arkavoid - Aesthyria

by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Arkavoid’s “Aestheryia” travels through complex, skillfully woven sonic landscapes, moving across various styles of synthesized music, from pounding synthwave to ethereal vaporwave. Arkavoid shifts seamlessly between styles and moods while retaining a cohesive sound, resulting in an album that is intensely engaging. The way Arkavoid combines guitar with a rich variety of synth tones, textures and timbres deepens the complexity and beauty of the music. All in all, the journey he takes us on is both exciting and ear-pleasing.

One of the most effective aspects of “Aestheryia” is the atmospheric experience it creates. Each track paints a clear vignette of a unique scene through sound. I enjoy the cinematic nature of the imagery Arkavoid conjures as he blends many distinct synth sounds to weave fascinating, short-form tales within each piece. The end result is music that moves across a wide spectrum of evocative emotional and mental states as it unfolds.

Another crucial component of “Aestheryia”is the compositional skill on display. Each track feels like a self-contained world, filled with the varied tones and textures that synths can create. There is a sense of an unfolding vision that flows from track to track, giving the listener a full experience of sonic depth. I am compelled by the instrumental interweaving as the guitar moves in and out of the different synth layers, creating richly detailed and engaging music.

Melody also plays a vital role in this album. I am enamored with the way Arkavoid crafts melodies that capture the emotional core of each track. He composes with care and expression, increasing the album’s immersive pull. As each melody moves through the music, it intensifies the atmosphere and draws me deeper into every composition.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“AE-101” comes into being as deeply pulsing foundational weight moves with darkly shifting notes which plane through the music. Anticipatory urgency underpins the organ-like synth which adds heavy shadow and ominous drama. The organ’s classical portent deepens the sensations of approaching danger in an ear-pleasing way as a shivering sound moves with spinning tones. An underpinning note rings out as the twisting, writhing synth is split by a screaming warning before the music stops.

Rebounding, deep notes form a revolving pattern to open “Masterlight.” Massively crushing drums intertwine with twisting guitar that wriggles uncomfortably, like a dark creature. A guitar pattern becomes hypnotic and repetitive, entrancing as it unfolds. An insistent rhythm heaves with threatening weight.

The track drives forward as a synth drifts plaintively and guitar slashes with menacing strength. The way in which power and discomfort mingle effectively creates a sense of approaching evil. Drums continue to punch as a twirling synth comes in, emphasizing shadowy tendrils reaching out from darkness.

A synth choir echoes with intensity while the melody becomes melancholy, touching me with the contrast it offers. Jagged notes fulminate below the gentler melody as it levitates. Cleanly glowing notes dance as the underlayer pounds and the guitar solo climbs with hurt and minor-key darkness, mingling ferocity and ache.

Arkavoid pours emotion into the music and the underpinnings rebound heavily. The guitar descends with tremulous energy and once again a hypnotizing pattern leaps through the music, creating dynamic momentum. The rhythm is unstoppable as the guitar churns and silence falls.

“Vaporkiss” commences as warm light spills from a climbing synth and seagulls cry in the distance. Heavy bass rebounds as the sharp drums splash widely and resonating notes carry a wistful melody that hovers through the music. An arpeggio echoes and spins before undulating as luminous chords add a sunlit gleam.

The feeling of sun burning off the morning mist permeates the music, suffusing it with a gentle radiance, contrasted by the punchy rhythm. Ringing notes float lightly as rounded, digital-sounding tones tremble quickly, adding a slightly unsettling quality. The broadly bursting underlayer adds shape while a rapidly flickering synth moves like sun bursting through fog.

I enjoy the balance of lightness and weight as the arpeggiating notes shimmer, matched with leaping tones. An echoing voice drifts, lost in the haze of the music while clearer notes flash. The foundation throbs as waves wash and chords flare before silence falls.

The sound of a car door opening and a powerful engine being revved kicks off “Overlimit”. A synth surges in bright lines, matched with urgent bass as the drums join in. Beaming notes are slashed by Arkavoid's sharp-edged guitar as it descends with fervent power. The drums explode as the guitar creates rushing velocity, shining above the pounding rhythm. The guitar slices cleanly as it spins out a madly intertwining melodic pattern along with razor-sharp synth and growling V8 sounds.

The drums create a flowing sensation while dazzling notes fill the music with tension. I enjoy the way in which Arkavoid's guitar lacerates, filling me with the feeling of charging through the night at the wheel of a massively powerful motorized beast. Now the bass entangles with the pulsing drums, which occasionally burst heavily. As the song comes to an end, the listener is left with the sense of a dramatic midnight rush.

“Black Eyes” erupts with truly massive drums pulsing as a siren cries out. A gruffly trumpeting synth creates threatening motion while the drums continue to burst heavily. Razor-sharp notes flick past while the pounding low end heaves and revolving notes twirl. String-like synth adds high drama while the propulsive drums and bass press forward. Towering guitar growls with forceful dynamism, carrying a melody capturing raging power and rising danger.

Chimes ring with fierce light as a choral synth creates a dark atmosphere. As the colossal drums continue to throb, the repeating synth melody glows with unrelenting light. The guitar slices back in as the looming synth creates hugely forceful sensations, conjuring imagery full of peril for me. The guitar continues to slash through the music while exciting notes shine and the track ends with dramatic intensity

After an unsettling period of static, a cassette is popped into a tape deck and “Symphony of Death” begins. A faraway, chiming synth moves in a trembling pattern full of worry and growing tension. Gargantuan drums rebound as a gruff underlayer cuts sharply, while elevated tones flicker with fear.

The string-like synth spins out a terrified melody, speaking of horrors waiting to strike from the shadows, while lacerating guitar notes rip into the music like razor-sharp claws. The underpinnings seethe with danger, filling me with a deep sense of impending doom. A telephone rings endlessly, joined by a haunting voice as the surging blackness below rises in a terrifying tide.

The main melody captures me with its chilling depth while a hellish choir of sound echoes beneath it. Arkavoid’s guitar tears apart the music as the slow drum beats add grim shape, before tautly flickering chimes drift slowly into silence.

Conclusion

“Aestheryia” is a fully immersive journey through a multitude of fascinating worlds, limned in luscious sound. Arkavoid demonstrates remarkable skill and creativity in painting vivid images in the mind through interacting synths and textures. This is music for internal travel, guiding the listener toward new worlds and altered states of mind.