Silicon Empire - New Paradigm

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Silicon Empire’s New Paradigm combines awe-inspiring power with darkness, a tinge of aching emotion and a sense of computerized, mechanized motion. Shadows abound, synths are layered and interlocking and electric guitar adds energy and even more power over the crushing low end elements of the album.

The major sonic elements that make New Paradigm so effective are the truly gargantuan bass and the massive drums. The surging, guttural bass forms a dense tide that propels the music onwards with physical force and the drums batter and charge to increase the energy that permeates the album.  The overall feeling Is one of overwhelming darkness and power.

Another compelling part of New Paradigm is the guitar’s presence on the album. Silicon Empire creates textural, dynamic guitar parts that deepen and strengthen the music as a whole. They possess the same colossal scope and crushing power as the drums and bass, only enhancing the terrifying atmosphere that fills the album and seizes the listener by the ears.

This album also benefits from the interesting synth choices that Silicon Empire has made. The varied tones, timbres and audio textures paint interesting sonic imagery that ranges from howling rage to fragile shimmer. There are moments of that feel pained, triumphant segments and sounds that are heavily textured and aurally corrugated. The end result is a series of layered sounds that come together into a cohesive whole.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“202X AD” starts off as madly oscillating, intertwining arpeggios spin darkly into vast space as a cosmically deep, harsh bass wave growls below. Trumpeting, massive synths echo out as a broken drumbeat stutters into the music. Gritty synth carries a gigantic sonic wall over the battering bass.

Incredible shadowy energy pours from the track as an angular synth streams in and the tripping, throbbing drumbeat is matched by the oscillating sonic rush. Medium-high, glowing synth bursts in dynamically propulsive lines that effectively add an urgent feel to the music. Majestic synth chords rise and flow. A hollow, guitar-like sound echoes out into the density around it and fades on gruff bass and into silence.

Tense, full-sounding synth carries a nervously writhing note pattern quickly into “Electric Hydra’s” open spaces along with a high, steady sound and rough bass. Metallic percussion, like a hammer striking an anvil, is surrounded by slowly tripping drum.

Thunderous electric guitar carries a threatening wall of colossal, low sound to enhance the sheer muscle of the music. Agitated, broadly bright synth carries a trembling line over the electric guitar's snarling dominance. Swirling, rich synth rises to be cut by elevated sounds with a jagged edge as the bass rumbles below.

The guitar’s aggressive sonic attack contrasts with the haunted, mournful sounds flowing above it as the metallic percussion keeps on pulsing. The sonic wall fades to huge bass growling and a tight, high sound that also is subsumed by the tremendous bass weight.

“Global Nervous System” begins with an airy sound as angular, razor-edged bass forms a pulse along with the hammering percussion. A danger-filled guitar sound towers into the music, carrying a lacerating and vibrating line before the steady drum and bass pulse propels the track forward.

The background is full of writhing, swirling sound that has a majestic quality as the percussion’s hammer strikes cut through it. Shredding, slashing guitar carries a ferocious pulse that rams into the music over the heaving drums and bass underneath it. The guitar shakes in agitated lines and now we drift to a wide-open, spectrally floating segment propelled by the relentless beat and battering drums.

I enjoy the guitar’s powerful shine as it slices through the darkness roiling around it. The whole track has a gigantic, urgent surging running through it as the angular bass lacerates. The track end’s on the guitar’s undulating, tidal pulse as the flowing drift behind it fades.

A crushing, guttural bass wall rises with terrible power to open “Mechanized.” A floating, distant synth drifts above the impossibly deep bass. An unbelievably heavy bass surge forms a pulsating pattern over the hard hitting drums and the sound of a hammer ringing on an anvil.

Now intertwining, string like synths trail soft tendrils over the giant mass underneath them. The hollow, drifting sounds that flow through provide a lighter contrast to the dense bass. The airy, spectrally floating higher elements lend the music a pained, lost quality that I find touching. The drums propel the track on, smashing as the bass roils and writhes in clotted, massive lines.

“Godless Prayer” commences as guitar smoothly calls out in a gently unfolding melody that is open and tinged with melancholy as glittering synths flash high above it. Synths sparkle as the guitar is supported the deep bass.  The guitar takes on a sharper edge as flickering motes of light dance through the music.

Guitar reverberates out into open space as the high synth dances and the bass adds extreme depth to the mix. Above the other elements, the full-toned synths flow in an easier feeling line and the rough bass is cut by razor-edged sounds. There’s an effective contrast between the track’s fragile elements and heavier, more shadowy sounds. The way they combine forms a balanced whole in the track.

Expanding, overwhelming bass rumbles out into open space as softly touching, caressing synths shimmer and flash to bring “Phoenix” to life. The bass weight is a physical force while the trickling, metallic sparkle of the higher synths echoes out in tremulous lines.

The bass forms a supremely ferocious pattern as the metallic hammer strikes fall to add more shape and the drums throb. The guitar churns in a grinding line that only increases the weight of the music. Below it the bass is a palpable, angry force that rapidly collides as majestic, gliding synth far above adds a reverent quality to which I am drawn.

Higher synths create delicacy and shine that lifts the music even as the bass and drums create an anchoring force far underneath. The track ends on the cavernous bass and lighter sounds that glide along in contrast.

Conclusion

New Paradigm is an album with presence and power. It unfolds soundscapes that loom and threaten, touched with brief flashes of gentler emotion and permeated by a mechanistic, industrial sensibility. I enjoy the approach that Silicon Empire takes to synth music and hope to hear more from him soon. To learn more about Silicon Empire, find him on Bandcamp here.