Artificial Brain - Artificial Brain (Review)

Drawing frequent comparisons to mind-altering progressive death metal acts, Artificial Brain have distinguished themselves from their peers through an emphasis on rich, melancholic melodic figures, contextualizing the harmonic and emotive qualities of black metal within a more aggressive death metal framework. Their previous two records - Labyrinth Constellation and Infrared Horizon quickly garnered popularity and amazed the masses with their impeccable songwriting. It was about time the band would release their highly anticipated third album and complete the saga it started in 2014. The self-titled third album drops on June 3rd, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it.

From the opening track “Artificial Brain”, the band paints a dense wall of sound with its usage of huge open dissonance chords, unconventional rhythms. Being the shortest song of the album, it wastes no time in establishing what Artificial Brain is known for. “Glitch Cannon” provides an insight into its black metal riffs, almost reminiscent of Kraalice sound while maintaining the grooves in the back. “Celestial Cyst” brings a sense of melancholy, somewhere buried under the huge mammoth sounding dissonant riffs. The dense & brutal amalgamation of guitar and fast blast-beats laden drums puts for an otherworldly experience. The old-school riffs of Demilich or Gorguts and the black metal melody come together in “A Lofty Grave”. Also, we have Colin Marston on Waar Guitar, providing more of the Kraalice touch to it. 

While “Tomb of the Exiled Engineer” explores more on the melancholic & experimental black metal in its fast and slow moments, “Embalmed with Magma” is rather groovy with its extensive use of double bass, blast-beats and impeccable drumming. Tracks like “Parasite Site” and “Cryogenic Dreamworld” are melody-laden, being more inclined towards the death metal spectrum, while having few atmospheric and ambient touch to them in moments. A mammoth of a track from its first riff itself “Insects and Android Eyes” showcases saturnine melodies floating along in the high registers of the instruments, providing an otherworldly galactic journey. The final track “Last Words of the Wobbling Sun” really wobbles down to every major factor on the album - its viscous with its dissonance elements, while being melodic with its layerings and absolutely rumbling through its powerful impeccable drumming. Melancholic and powerful till its last moment, the song leaves its memorable impact in its final moments of outro - a powerful ending to the trilogy.

“Artificial Brain” marks the group’s final recording with original vocalist Will Smith (Afterbirth). The vocals are almost low gutturals from the depths of hell, powerful enough to summon an intergalactic monster.With themes of isolation, madness, and the inexorability of nature, the songwriting on this album feels much more organic and a well-balanced act. This definitely showcases the band’s ideas in its most mature form. After two successful albums, the style pioneered by Artificial Brain is complex and almost incomprehensible, yet somehow they manage to break their own mold and return back with some gigantic. While Labyrinth Constellation and Infrared Horizon felt more chaotic and wacky - Artificial Brain feels more congenial and snug, while not abandoning its previous qualities. With these being said, the expectations were high and Artificial Brain did not disappoint. It gave us one of the memorable albums of the year, and certainly a fair addition to their gold discography.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ArtificialBrainMusic

Genre: Technical Blackened Death Metal

Label: Profound Lore Records

Worldwide Release: June 3rd, 2022.