Underpond - Between Lost and Hope

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Underpond’s Between Lost and Hope has a melancholy beauty that is emphasized by the AI generated singers and their mixture of their mixture of synthetic sound and human emotion:. In my mind, it generates images of lonely androids calling out into outer space.

A feeling of mournful loss permeates the music on Between Lost and Hope. It is touched by tentative hope and dreamy drifting emotion that lends all of the songs a deeply affecting quality. I am drawn to the pained expression that fills many of the melodies that unfold on the album.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of the use of AI vocalists on the album, but I’ve come to find the idea intriguing. There’s a mixture of synthetic sound and human feeling in the algorithm generated voices that captures the often pained emotional content in the lyrics. I am intrigued by what the mixture of digital generation and human feelings says about that balance in our daily lives.

Layering and intertwining synth sounds with gargantuan bass and powerful drums creates intense auditory imagery on Between Lost and Hope. There are light, feathery sounds mixed with warm, rounded synths along with synths that capture intensely hurting emotion. I enjoy the propulsive weight and energy of the percussion and bass as it contrasts with the ache of the higher synth sounds.

My Favourite Songs Reviewed

“Free Falling” begins as gossamer synth flows out and a breezy sound sweeps.Solid bass pulsates as warm piano-like chords ring out. The AI vocalist has a robotic quality that still exudes emotion. I am intrigued by the idea of a synthetic vocalist still sounding expressive. Medium-high synth trembles in broad, glowing lines and bass throbs.

Snare drum and kick drum move in a steadying pulse as celestial synth glides. The resonant, non-human voice feels strangely engaging as it sings. The vocal melody has a soothes above low bass and a shaping drumbeat. The song ends on a lonely synth sweep and open-sounding synth.

The narrator speaks of running far away, “anywhere from nowhere.” She says they ought to “fall away, straight away” and catch air to fly away as they are “free falling.”

A gritty, medium-low synth supports elevated, crystalline chimes that sparkle slowly into space to open “Lost.” Rounded, gentle synth flows around the AI vocalist’s pained feeling sound as massive bass undulates and drums splash across the track. There’s a surging motion to the bass and ticking drums.

Pleasingly tragic fragility fills the vocal melody as a bright, medium-high synth pulse matches the undulating bass. Gruff guitar growls, carrying a melody combining loss and yearning anticipation.

Rippling, string-like synth spins out slow arpeggios while the drums and bass urge the song onward. The guitar swirls in sharp lines that are full of tentative hope and we end on glittering chimes,

The storyteller talks about being lost with a blinded heart as she keeps on finding, asking “where are you hiding?” and wondering if she’ll find them. She says that everything is alright and contrasts that by saying nothing is okay.

Our narrator goes on to state that “every single day is rewind and delay” whether they are bright or “all the rainy Sundays.” She talks about the “slowly fading lights around my mellow grays” because she’s lost.

“White Noise” commences as rapidly oscillating, elevated synth cascades. A whispered male voice repeats the words “white noise” as hard-edged bass growls. Raised, shimmering synth levitates above the rebounding, flying drumbeat. AI vocals carry a melody combining dynamism and mournful emotion as wandering, spinning synth twists through the song.

Wispy, aching vocals drift to effectively express the lyrics.The song glides a segment in which starry synth carries a tentative, lost-feeling melody before drums and bass return to propel the song onward. The breathy hurt in the AI vocals creates emotion as rapidly twirling, raised synth notes dance over the throbbing weight underneath. The song ends on cosmic floating.

“White noise” is what the narrator hears as she talks about living at the moment with “systems down.” As noise is discovered, there’s “vivid sound.” In the midst of the white noise, there’s a dark voice as the storyteller talks about making a “bad choice again.”

Piano-like notes chime with brittle light as reverent, misty sounds swirl to start “The Lonely Rebel.” A robotic voice whispers that “there is a giant space inside your shell, it is the hiding place for the lonely rebel.” Sharp-edged, slowly revolving synth spins over swelling bass. Stuttering snare drum bursts as cutting arpeggios spin and solid bass grows.

Gleaming, wide-sounding lead synth carries an ear-pleasing melody mingling triumph and loneliness as sharper arpeggios unwind. Below the arpeggios, heavy bass shivers. Rounded, digital sounding notes reverberate into space, delicately touching as the brittle piano echoes.

Arpeggiating, medium-high synth slices clearly as digital sounding, tentative notes repeat a melancholy pattern. The shining melody sings out in sadness-tinged lines while clean arpeggios whirl as drums shape the music and huge bass rises. The song ends on trailing, digital notes and tremulous piano.

“Sound of Sun” opens as towering bass is joined by a steadily flowing, worshipful sound. Nasal-sounding, medium high arpeggios undulate and the AI vocalist’s caressing voice carries a wonderfully tender, wistful melody. Trumpeting synth echoes and drums shape the music, popping into a steady beat.

Full-sounding, brassy synth echoes out in quickly fading notes while bass throbs below. The vocals trail slowly, full of ache and dreaming feeling as smooth drums add form above massive bass. Glimmering synth notes slip along, unmoored and lightly touching before drums snap in to propel the song.

Broad, rising synth adds a majestic quality to the song. Raised, slightly diffused synth carries the lonely, hopeful melody while the underlying low end drives the music. The hurting AI vocals call out and the song concludes with spaced out sound.

Sound fills the “long night” as the storyteller talks about the last hours of sun. The stars are “shining like sound” after “glowing flowers of sun.” The sun’s sound will go on “now and ever” and the narrator is feeling better.

Breathy wordless vocals flow out into open space as angular, glistening synth repeats in a cascading pattern to begin “Hope” as piano chords slowly expand. Wind sweeps as the warm, gentle AI vocals enjoyably enfold my ears and the diaphanous background flows.

Lambent synth motes slowly flare and fade as the piano notes grow. The AI singer combines synthetic and human characteristics as shining synth flickers. Bass creaks and computerized sounds pulse to add form.

The vocal melody mixes tragedy with more encouraging emotions as the steady drums and solid bass create forward motion. Glittering sounds rise and fade just as rapidly. The vocals are full of distance as the fluttering, sharply angled notes ripple to finish the song.

Our narrator addresses the song’s subject, asking them to breathe her in along with the “hazy night” and for the last time “hold tight.” She talks of hope as they get ready for a “sunset drive”with lights rushing past them. She speaks of how “hand in hand I hold you so tight” as they are bonded by neon lights. As the song concludes she talks about breathing in the other person and hoping on them as well.

“Sweet Kelly” comes alive as waves wash with calming motion and undulating, muffled synth slides along. Medium-high, sparkling synth carries a softly tranquil melody that contrasts well with a sharper guitar pattern. Colossal bass swells as the drums shape the music. Calming AI vocals sound like a gentle android talking about how “Sweet Kelly” is “my sun, smiling and fun” whether they relax or run “we are one.”

Higher synth bends and caresses as the dynamic, gleaming and round-sounding synth carries a dynamic melody that still feels vulnerable above the skipping drums and luscious bass while our AI vocalist carries a breathy melody while brighter synth shines with settling light and underneath the drums and bass keep on moving.

The lead melody combines energy and more pained emotions as the “singer” adds an element of cosmic drift to it as the guitar keeps vibrating wile the drums snap and tap and the bass powerfully buoys up the other elements as we fade on waves.

Conclusion

Between Lost and Hope creates deeply human emotional responses through synthetic elements. It is full of intense feeling woven from digitalization. The concept of using synthesis to make us feel speaks to the increasing integration of human beings and technology. I enjoy how this album engaged me and provoked thought.

Jessi Frey - Warrior

REVIEW BY KIZUNAUT

While the synth scene may perhaps know her best for her solo debut album Villainess, Jessi Frey first rose to prominence as the front woman of the Finnish industrial metal band Velcra. With Velcra Jessi would demonstrate her range both as a vocalist and as a songwriter, effortlessly moving between singing and screaming, pounding industrial metal and soft melodies. Using this formula, Velcra found great success in Finland, got the prized Emma award nomination for best newcomer and toured Europe. The band came to an end in 2008, leaving behind a fanbase that endures to this day, and for a good reason. 

I can’t claim to be some kind of a Velcra OG fan, but their biggest hit My Law was part of the sonic tapestry of my teens, receiving enough airplay and screen time to leave a trace in my memories. I really discovered the band properly much later on in my 20s and heavily regretted spending my teens as an embarrassing trad metal larper when it came to music and not actually going out there and discovering what was happening at the time. 

The band’s nu metal-influenced, energetic yet still melodic industrial metal that had Jessi both singing and doing a kind of scream-rap that feels ahead of its time is more than compelling and remains quite unique. My favorite from the band’s discography is 2007s Hadal that saw the band use much more prominent electronic elements than before. I have sometimes described it to people as being Finland’s equivalent of NIN’s The Fragile, a genre-transcending masterpiece that was ahead of its time. Someone could release it today and it would still sound fresh. 

I don’t think it’s good to obsess over the past of artists’ who have gone solo after having spent time in a band, but I think the brief history lesson has been important for context, as with Warrior Jessi Frey turns heavily towards Velcra’s style. The dark synthpop sensibilities of her solo debut album Villainess are still there, but they are joined by pounding beats, heavy guitars and songwriting choices that remind me strongly of her old band. The end result is very reminiscent of 90s industrial music, but re-amped for today. 

While the style of the album might lean towards a style inspired by the past, the production side of things is modern, clear and powerful. The drums are snappy, the guitars have both great crunch and clarity, the synths are pristine and Jessi’s vocals sit at the center of attention without overwhelming the instrumentals. She demonstrates a rather broad range on the album, from whispering to screaming, though mostly staying in the clean range, pushing for a grittier tone when the songs need an extra push of urgency or energy. Overall, the album is sleek and powerful, but I feel that some of the tracks could have used a bit punchier kick drum for extra oomph. This is a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things. 

Thematically, the album seems to coalesce around the titular idea of being a Warrior of some sort. The mood of the album can be best described as dark but defiant, the instruments casting moody, downbeat and occasionally mysterious tones while the lyrics offer a more hopeful note. It’s a style that works really well. 

The idea of a “Warrior” takes many forms on this album. There are a lot of songs about survivorship, overcoming difficulties and facing an uncertain future. For example, Future Hackers deals with overcoming anxiety about the present day state of matters, the mixture of pounding riffs, driving percussion, futuristic arps and dramatic choirs offering an explosive backing track for Jessi’s vocals. Antifragile starts with the premise of seeing your dreams shattered and moves to a crescendo of coming back stronger from past failures. Choppy rhythms and staccato synths dominate the verses, while the choruses are backed by a sweeping riff. The ending sees the track build into a crushing wall of noise while Jessi repeats “I can take it” over and over again, going from whispers to screaming and offering the most powerful and memorable moment of the album. 

There are also more literal interpretations of the idea of being a warrior. We Don’t Need Another Hero is a cover of Tina Turner’s classic hit that she made for the Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome soundtrack. Jessi Frey’s version is decidedly less pop, going for a dramatic, somber-yet-hopeful, synth-orchestral take. Bloodsport offers a parade of curious characters who go to proverbial battle on the dancefloor. Jessi loans MC Raaka Pee of the Finnish industrial/party/jäger bomb metal band Turmion Kätilöt to deliver extra vocals. The themes and style on offer are definitely more on the Turmion Kätilö side, in other words, a fun industrial-tinted banger.  

For me, the album’s divergent ways of dealing with its central theme are however its biggest weakness. I like both We Don’t Need Another Hero and Bloodsport as individual songs, but they feel kind of out of place sandwiched between tracks that deal with really big, important and relevant topics in a way that feels very sincere and from the heart. I can understand their inclusion, and perhaps someone else might see them very differently from me. They do bring some variety and lightness to the album’s otherwise rather heavy themes.

Nevertheless, even with the thematic whiplash I get, this is an album that I enjoy greatly and it has been among my most listened to albums of the year. It’s one thing to make cool industrial rock bangers and nicely moody 90s industrial throwbacks, it’s another thing to do it with such talent and willingness to tackle difficult themes as she has demonstrated here. Warrior may be for me an album of valleys and peaks, but the peaks that are there are incredibly high, and the valleys aren’t even that low, simply more akin to stumbling upon something out of place on your journeys. 

I’m hardly writing this review with fresh ears, and the most-listened tracks from this album have acquired a kind of patina, or perhaps a moss layer, of lived emotions. The album-opening Future Hackers and the extremely powerful Antifragile have been on extremely heavy rotation for me ever since they came out. And indeed, those tracks in particular have helped me to live through some very tough times. More than being just a really good album that faithfully conjures vibes from 90s industrial music, the album is extremely meaningful to me. And there is a gap between good music and meaningful music that only a rare few bridge. Warrior manages to crystallize a certain “peak COVID” energy that I surely am not the only one to have lived through. Nothing else out there really captures the vibe of suddenly being shut off from the world, forced to rely on social media while watching your social networks wither and languish. And despite all of this, you somehow survive, find reasons to go on. It’s music for facing titanic challenges and coming back alive. This is the kind of music the world desperately needs. 

I had the opportunity to see Jessi Frey live recently during the Helsinki Industrial Festival pre-party. It was an extremely powerful experience, not only because she and her band kicked ass on stage. It was unusual to see so many people in Velcra shirts, the band still being dearly missed by some. I don’t know how Jessi Frey feels about people being nostalgic for her old band, but for me, it’s just a demonstration that great music and great musicians have no expiration date. I may have missed Velcra, the media phenomenon in my youth, but I got to hear some of the most impactful music I have experienced in recent history live. And let me tell you, it was amazing. We can’t go into the past, but we can take the best from it and build something new, something that resonates even more strongly than the past events and ideas we tend to be so nostalgic and fond off.

I don’t expect everyone to feel about this album the way I do, but I do recommend it without reservations to basically anyone and especially to people who like the 90s industrial style. I would also like to recommend Velcra’s last album Hadal, which I think is their best, and absolutely criminally underappreciated and very poorly known even in the industrial rock connoisseur circles. 

Null-O Band: Combat Droid Lullabies

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Null-O Band’s Combat Droid Lullabies creates an ominous, pained technological atmosphere that is full of darkness shot through with moments of tragedy and flickers of hope. Performed guitars, drums, bass and human voices mix with synths and robotic vocals to create a balance between technology and humanity.

Null-O Band’s mixing of synth sounds with performed instruments adds extra depth to Combat Droid Lullabies. The well-executed guitar solos, strong drum work and underpinning bass guitar give the music a living, breathing feeling. In contrast, the synths and computerized voices evoke a shadowy, tech-dominated future. The end result is deeply compelling music.

All of the guest performances on Combat Droid Lullabies add to the album's quality. The guests contribute their vocals to the music and each artist’s contribution gives the songs variety and expression. There’s more depth and breadth to the album as every performer brings their unique sensibility. I enjoy the strength of this collaborative effort.

Atmosphere drenches this music as it unfolds. The digitized sounds and robotic voices add cold, impersonal emotions while heavy-hitting drums and dense bass bring shadows into the tracks. Delicate, hurting synth melodies add to the palpable tragedy in the music while moments of warmth touch the darkness with hope.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Human Memory Residue” comes to life as massive drums smack into the track, skittering and driving as solid electric bass vibrates and computerized arpeggios arc. Medium-high, soft-edged synth sings a pleasing melody that’s both delicate and energetic, touched by pained emotion.

Glimmering arpeggios leap and flashing digital sounds move, supported by solid bass and rebounding drums. Powerful, ancient sounding female vocals and a guiding radio voice move over tapping percussion and strong bass. The female voice has resonant power and depth as hollow tapping sounds echo out.

The main synth melody sings with a warm, tragic feeling as the drums stutter and electric bass rumbles as a steady vibration flows. Arpeggios whirl through along wth the radio transmission from space. The track ends on the timeless,  intense female vocals

Tumbling taut synth is joined by a robotic voice and heavily throbbing drums to open “Stay On Target.” An expanding, broad synth pattern falls through the song as the robotic voice chants the lyrics. The drumbeat accelerates as crunchy bass and flanging synths fly out in arpeggiating lines.

The synth that retorts with thunderous power creates a sense of energy in the music.  Squelching synth wobbles as drums batter while the robotic voice is interspersed with a woman commanding the drone to“stay on target.”

Wide, angular synth rips in bending notes above the guttural power below it. Dark, low synth rises in towering notes as the robotic voice chants over the huge bass and pounding drums.  The commanding woman’s voice ends the track with bubbling notes and a digital shut down sound.

Our robot narrator speaks of how it is programmed to fight and exists in a great “game.” It seeks and destroys, over and over. Now the narrator's engines are failing and the mission “different, not part of the game.” The song ends as it is “going down in flames.”

“Electra, My Love” starts as active bass and staggeringly powerful drums throb. Medium-high, twisting synths swirl and an organ carries shadowy, rising notes. Drums and bass propel the music as Retrograth’s dramatic, expressive voice is supported by thundering guitar.

Elevated, mournful synth floats out and a robotic voice chants the chorus. The guitar sings a melody enjoyably brimming with power and intense emotion as it twists through the music. The main melody is interspersed with aching synth as threatening organ chords add weight.

The guitar’s sharp teeth cut in above the dominant drumbeat and heavy bass. Retrograth’s deep voice is full of intense feeling as lonely synth echoes out above the hard-hitting tide. The guitar winds through the music in a gliding, cascading solo that carries strong emotion.

The storyteller says that the war’s ended and he’s got no one left to fight. He says “my circuits are melting, I’ll dissolve in your light.” He speaks to his love named Electra and says that although there’s no “energy left in my nuclear heart” they can’t be kept separated by time and distance.

Wavering, bending chimes shimmy above bass welling up below in active motion to kick off "Syndicate Cargo Part 1.” The chimes are joined by Flamingo Jones’ half-spoken vocals and drums that create propulsion.

The vocals are doubled by nasal-sounding, twisting chimes that bounce as drums and bass shape the music. Intricate, ethereal guitar tumbles in a cascading solo as the chanted vocals repeat above the strong drumbeat and moving bassline.

I enjoy the way in which the strange tale told by the lyrics is matched by the quirky oddity of the music around it. Thee’s an even pulse to the beat as the twinkling, bending high notes wriggle out the odd melody above huge bass and shaping drums.

The teller of this tale speaks of an insane navigator and failing hyperdrives. The navigator is “reciting cryptic poems to a demented mainframe.” Warning lights fill the displays and their oxygen is low. The narrator says “you better look away.”

They’re carrying “syndicate cargo” and something is vey wrong. The sensors are excited, there’s high radiation and “strange motion is detected.” Our weary storyteller says it’ll be a long flight and now “something strange is happening at the loading bay.”

“Postcard From Helsinki” starts as weighty drums pound below hollow, medium high synth unfolding in a mysterious melody. Digital sparks flit through the music and steady, brushing percussive noise moves.

Snare drum charges ahead to add propulsion while crunching, twisting synth swirls. Higher, smoother synth carries a melody beautifully mingling ancient sound, noble power and a feeling of drifting. The drums explode and a woman's ethereal voice roams, creating a reverent sensation above the thick, rich bass and muscled drums.

The crunching synth pulse adds a unique quality while string like synths provide a swirling background. Now chanting voices flow out above digitized sounds as the drums lighten. There’s a timeless feeling in the female voices as they flow and fade.

Actively charging drums move with angular, nasal-sounding synth to start “Orgy Of Zero.” The synth lends a spaced out quality as it falls and tumbles in rapid motion. Melodywhore’s chanted phrase “Come follow me, baby…” moves in with madly oscillating synth above a knotted, battering drumbeat and steadily pulsing bass.

High sound echoes in twisted motion, entangling as sweeping sounds rise through the music.  A robotic voice chants “I want you now” in hungry need as hollow synth revolves in ever moving lines.

Above it, there’s an effective feeling of loss in the nasal synth.The track moves a segment in which a flaring, writhing synth is guided by dense drums and colliding bass. The track ends on whirling, trembling raised synth before silence falls.

“Asteroid Rider” begins as rushing synth oscillates and a kick drum throbs. Gently ethereal lead synth carries a noble melody as female vocals swirl and glittering synth notes float out. The robotic voice effectively adds a dark, digital quality to the music as wobbling synth trembles in wandering lines. Drums leap in as the uplifting lead synth calls out along with the warmly powerful female vocals.

The robotic voice speaks of taking the only way to find help. Trickling, twisting synth wriggles through the soaring lead melody above propulsive drums. Women’s wordless voices carry an enfolding, worshipful melody as glowing, elevated synth flows into silence.

Drums pop and leap while the funky bassline jumps around them to kick off “12 Funky Droid Monkeys.” The lead guitar cries out in an enjoyable blues-infected melody that has passion pouring from the strings as the funky bass and gnarly drums groove underneath.

After digital sparkles fly, horns shout out with jazzy energy while the guitar howls and dances in an impassioned line. The groovy bassline keeps the track moving and the drums have a strong shaping influence. Computerized sounds lead the song to an end.

“Nice To Be In Orbit” starts off as an energizing drumbeat stutters and skips. A swaying bassline and rippling, elevated arpeggios are touched by technological noise. Steadily vibrating sound is now joined by lush, oboe-like synth beautifully carrying a wistful, tender melody. Arpeggios undulate and fat bass roams while the drums keep skipping along.

Now a woman’s voice trembles with magical power and a radio transmission speaks of it being nice to be in orbit.  Haunted women’s voices flow as the smoothly popping drumbeat shapes the caressing melody as the bass adds more form. Arpeggios sweep past again and steadily trembling, high sound vibrates. The track ends on timeless chanting and the radio transmission before silence falls.

A plethora of beeps, grinding tech noises and softly tapping drums open “The Little Things.” Low, dark synth adds weight below Lesley Wood’s clear, flat voice that evokes something robotic. The piano melody has a tragic ache below Lesley Wood’s clear delivery that drives home the words.

Strings powerfully radiate helpless agony along with the hurting piano as brushing drums hiss. There’s a broken pain within the piano and strings that deepens the mournful quality of the track.

Metallic arpeggios twirl and the narration becomes soothing and guiding, despite the flat delivery. Shivering resonance fills the strings as drums splash and scatter. The tragic piano melody brings the track to an end.    

Our narrator speaks of her inability to sleep as she thinks of the “terrors, mass murders, suffering and greed.” Everything feels hopeless and unable to act. She adds that “I see no point to it. I don't understand.” She feels that it might be depression but wonders if it isn’t just “the world now.”

The storyteller speaks of “the fat cats raking it in” while people starve and bears “standing in locked cages, begging for food.” These are her nightmares. She prays but it does nothing so she listens and hears the message to “focus on the little things.”

She talks about holding still and holding on to focus on one’s “immediate surroundings” and doing little tasks like making the bed, eating and resting well. Above all, she repeats “breathe, breathe.” Our narrator speaks of staying focused and present in the moment, without worrying about past, future, countries or cities.

In conclusion, our storyteller remembers that “there are things to help, things to fix, right in front.”

Conclusion

Combat Droid Lullabies is a journey through the perils, pitfalls and danger of a technological future that is also tinged with deeply human emotions. The mixture of live and synthesized instruments with strong vocal performances only deepens the impact of the music.

Necromancer - WorldEater

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Necromancer’s WorldEater is a terrifyingly bleak, harsh slab of towering dark synths, tidal drums and crushing bass. The black gulfs of endless space yawn from this music while fear and existential dread permeate it. The tiny sparks of light feel mournful and insignificant in the face of the shadows pouring from this album.

Atmosphere is a crucial element in my appreciation of music. The dread-filled power of WorldEater creates a raging, Stygian impression while nervous-sounding synths tremble and snarling bass makes demonic progress through the album. In the more fragile moments, I feel profound sorrow as the shadows engulf the universe.

There is a sublime horror that fills the musical elements of WorldEater. The Cyclopean power of the synths that Necromancer uses in his music fills my mind with images of elder gods and icy destruction. The underpinning bass is like the voice of the void as it growls and the drums pound with intense weight and strength. The overall feeling is one of desolation and destruction.

I enjoy the way in which Necromancer layers all of his sounds. The complexity of the different auditory interactions catches my ears. It isn’t all unsubtle raging as the many synth tones, timbres and textures interweave to add depth to the seething blackness that reaches out dark tentacles.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Awakened” comes to life as a distant bell rings out and rain falls softly. A dark synth pulse slowly beats as metallic sounds clatter and a twisting, distant voice slips. A chilling, demonic voice speaks evil words into open space. Thunder rolls and a high, terrified sound rushes past. A single high chime tinkles and silence falls along with the twisted voice. The sense of omen and portent in this track is an excellent opener to the album.

Quickly spinning arpeggios full of nervous agitation join the sound of rain falling to start “Wrath.” Rumbling bass and a thumping kick drum move in as arpeggios spin up with worry and fear. A bass upwelling moves the drumbeat batters. A horrified sound rings out before the track drifts into a creaking, Stygian void.

Portentous arpeggios twirl while towering drums create a slow pulse and deep bass snarls. Taut strings twist out with a fearful motion as the arpeggio ramps up the feeling of threatening evil. Sparkling sound shimmers out above the tumbling arpeggios as looming bass rumbles.

Agitated arpeggios swirl while raised, bright sound trembles as powerful drums smack into the track. Every musical element effectively exudes palpable foreboding. Feverish light pours from the arpeggios while harsh bass moves in a heavy tide. The drums press on with fierce motion while higher sounds shiver before fading on hollow arpeggios and bass whorls.

“Leviathan” opens as steady, low bass spreads through the music with a muffled drumbeat. Both musical elements grow in power as a buzzing vibration shifts. A diabolical voice speaks as drums thud. A leaping, flashing synth pulse slices above growling bass and pounding drums.

Glowing synth wriggles in a minor key line before fragile chimes waver as soft crunching sounds shift. A bass void yawns below as buzzing synth slowly trembles into the openness around it. This track conjures up images of vast space and devouring evil in a way I enjoy.

A nervous, taut synth pattern cries out with dread above the drumbeat’s muscled strength and the bass weight far below. After a drum flourish, umbral bass growls and medium-high synth with a hollow feeling turns slowly. The chiming synth carries revolving arpeggios as massive drums hit hard below. The elevated synth conveys great fright and the music fades on dominating drums.

A steady, echoing high synth softly shivers as sibilant hissing drifts to start “Devoured.” Winds sweep and sigh as dense bass vibrates heavily before the drums attack ferociously as sawtoothed bass lacerates.

Glittering, raised arpeggios exude apprehension as skittering bass and smashing drums create a shuddering, uneven pulse. A continual high sound shifts before a delicate piano carries a melancholy series of softly touching notes. The piano’s fragility creates a superb contrast to the angry drum and bass assault.

Gritty bass surges through yawning gulfs of darkness. Lost piano notes are nearly swept away by a gleaming, unevenly tumbling synth pulse. The drums and bass slowly thunder as sparkling synth floats out above lugubrious synth chords. The continually shimmering synth rings and drums and bass lacerate as high piano notes are carried away into silence.

“Merciless” opens as intensely bright chimes ring out into cavernous space in a slowly wandering pattern. Harsh metal rings and a steady, doom-laden drum pulse throbs as angular sounds are underpinned by incredibly heavy bass. Muscled, serrated bass and shattering drums ram the music forward with raging strength.

Feverishly flaring synth tumbles in a sharp-edged cascade above the maelstrom deep underneath it. The lacerating low end storm thrashes against high notes shivering through the music. I find the way in which the track's grinding weight drives into the ears with unrelenting anger rather satisfying.

An empty void opens, distant brassy sounds howling out as grit-edged bass moves with horrible power as battering drums smack my ears again. Raised, shining synth carries a melody exuding anxiety as the huge tide below tugs and pulls at it. The chasing drum rhythm is doubled by surging synth pulses while high chimes flicker into silence.

Distorted, guttural bass growls as a steady ringing echoes in the distance to begin “WorldEater.” Jangling arpeggios spin with tense terror and drums smash shove the track forward on a tide of slicing sound. In the distance, flickering synth oscillates slowly while shadowed, crushingly heavy bass presses down.

Chiming synth cries out unevenly, permeated with worry. It spins into an arpeggio, undulating uncomfortably, as urgent drums and bass batter onward. Unfurling arpeggios effectively increase the sense of imminent danger. The bass claws my ears and a sonic cacophony snarls in the distance as silence falls.

“Enslaved” starts with a sound like a yawning grave. Scraping, metallic noises move as fragile, shimmering synth shines in the distance. A rush of icy air whispers through the music as a raised, tentative sparkle is now joined by jumping, heaving drums.

The elevated sound becomes a pulse that shifts side to side, ramping up the tension again. Hard-edged, razor-sharp bass slashes, touched by gentle glitter from an open-voiced synth. Now shining notes tremble into the surrounding openness, contrasted with the darkness engulfing them.

Demonic, guttural speech echoes as a delicate chime is buffeted by gigantic, rough-edged bass and heavily hitting drums. The horrific growl moves with threatening intent before silence falls.

Desolate, empty sounds are touched by a worried, glimmering arpeggio to begin “Offering.” The arpeggio slowly spins out into open space as a massive drum steadily pulsates. Raised synth sounds glow and scream, washed by fear. Crenellated bass lacerates and drums smash in hard. Shiny sounds scream before dark piano cascades in the distance and high synths chant.

Ripping bass tears the music and the chiming synth is full of warning while huge drums shatter. Glistening synth slowly drags above the slower drumbeat while all of the high sounds are panicked in effective contrast to the muscled heave below them.

A twisting chime flickers above the sepulchral bass that flows on and on. Wind blows across the emptiness around it before the drums attack. Creaking bass roughly breaks through as tortured synth howls far above the clotted darkness underpinning it before silence falls.

Conclusion

WorldEater is an uncompromising exploration of the unknown horrors that lurk in the lost reaches of the universe, waiting to rise and devour the Earth. Necromancer has done an excellent job of creating darksynth music that is as chilling as it is well-produced.