Chaosbay "Are You Afraid?" (2024)

  

On a somewhat predictable trajectory, yet no less exciting, Are You Afraid lands high octane metallic exuberance. Bolstered by punchy production, Chaosbay fuse catchy pop sensibilities with the edge of Djent guitar brutality. Encapsulated by subtle enriching synths and infrequent glitchy antics, this arsenal of short to-the-point three minute bangers blazes through their very best creative efforts.

These eleven cuts routinely erupt into grabbing "break downs", slamming serious momentum. Far from original yet executed with class, the double down on Eye For An Eye plays a keen favorite. Between these roars of anger, the soaring clean vocals of Jan Listing continuously ropes one into its lyrics themes through infectious cadence.

Taking on different temperaments and tempos defines each song from one another with true personality. Frequently dabbling in curious arrangements - cinematic synths, Trap adjacent percussion and dystopian electronics - simple song structures find space to experiment, elevating past the main theme. Its kept the listening experience fresh, exciting and on "the edge of your seat" so to speak.

 Without a weak point these thirty eight minutes play fun, animated, energetic. Anthems to fist pump, head bang and sing along too. Its been everything I hoped for. Having been teased by The Way To Hell, I'm happy the whole record reached that level of excellence. To my ears, these guys are among a rare few to get me excited about Metal these days.

Rating: 9/10

Chaosbay "The Way To Hell" (2024)

 

Hopefully paving the path to a new record, German outfit Chaosbay have been dropping singles, now wrapped into this three track EP. Showcasing the next iteration of their high-octane Djent Metalcore fusion, a familiar epic of soaring sharp vocal crescendo over the shimmer of dense guitar chords reigns supreme between some plunges of aggression. Money, a collaboration with We Are Pigs, is thee fruitful affair here. Effeminate vocals unite for a catchy chorus hook that predictably swings for the fences with its preceding dirty breakdown. Its swift looping structure and screamed conclusion quickly becomes an ear worm. A shared approach for two of the three.

Fast and snappy, the straightforward strikes each aim for lands firmly. Interwoven electronics, attention to detail and wall of sound production lights up relatively simplistic songs. Only the title track has a progressive structure, brooding its dreary theme to a crunchy conclusion with dirty, slamming guitar stunts. It too clocks in an easily digestible three minutes, a notable attribute as the band seem to shoot straight with imminently enjoyable and appealing ideas fleshed out for easy appeal.

Rating: 3/10

My Top 10 Albums Of 2022

 
Reviewing the shortlist, It didn't take me long to pick out ten. Quite a few bands, Slipknot, Puppy & Ghost to name a few, have come through with solid efforts but what were the moments that resonated the most? Novelty tends to be a strong fancy yet sometimes a dose of what you know and love has sticking power. This year didn't produce as many deep impressions, with exception for the top two, clear favorites that are still mesmerizing. I look forward to giving this all a listen again in coming weeks!

 

(10) Frank Klepacki & The Tiberian Sons "Lay To Waste" (2022) link

The re-ignition of Frank's C&C era music has been an absolute delight. Although parts of this brief four track EP may have been clunky and obtuse. Its spirit melds that Industrial Metal magic with Power Metal gleams and fantastical RPG VGM themes to a degree that's grown on me. In general its exciting to hear these musicians working on this sound. Even not if exactly what I wanted, together, they have so much potential to appeal to my nostalgia!

(9) Chaosbay "Boxes" (2022) link

A front runner in a post-Periphery era, these Germans made such a remarkable impression with their high octane meld of gleaming melody and hard hitting Djent. Its a juxtaposition that can play to delights on occasion and this EP captured a consistent magic stunningly. Like anthems, its soaring choruses got stuck in the mind and its five songs continue to bestow crunchy, shinny magic.

(8) Malcolm Horne "Mending" (2022) link

Malcolm returns to the top list again with another warm, endearing record of Jazzy Hip Hop beats, now fine tuned for a calmer atmosphere. Mending, crafted for streamers, finds balance and consistency as its flow of gentler crafts keeps one safe while accompanying adventures. This intention is felt so well as the record strides smoothly for its hour duration. An easy pleasure for sure!

(7) Nas "King's Disease III" (2022) link 

Seeming like a routine entry now, the "Goat" returns with an undeniable assembly of rhymes to grip this listener with a dose of the Hip Hop I adore, done to a level of excellence. Its main fault is its strength. That persistent theme. Lacking a little surprise, Nas continues strong with an installment to stand head and shoulders above anything I heard in the scene this year.

 

(6) Sabaton "The War To End All Wars" (2022) link

As a newly indoctrinated fan, I got another dose of exactly what I wanted. Their WW1 themed music got a second stint, recycling the same musical ideas and pumping out more of what works. It can't go on forever but as a result of such, they pulled of another cracking record that gets me fired up again and again. 

(5) Warpaint "Radiate Like This" (2022) link

 

 With so many crooning grooves, gleaming warmth and vulnerable emotive singing, this one read a resounding impression I've gone back to plenty of times. In need of warmth from a sincere, beautiful, endearing place, Radiate Like This has a sweet tone to indulge with. An exploration of prior records has taught me this band like to experiment and explore. I doubt they will repeat this formula, usually leaning to a darker grit. The Ethereal aesthetic here will likely be my favorite of theirs.

 

 

(4) The Weeknd "Dawn FM" (2022) link

You can't escape the Blinding Lights, however the craft of a whole record triumphs here as Weeknd takes on a nostalgic re-imagination of 80s Synth and Michael Jackson's singing style. With that music so rooted from my childhood it was beyond a pleasure to enjoy such a masterful handling of creative vision. In retrospect, the radio interludes are a little on the nose and break up its flow. Its also a record of two halves, the first I find much more appealing.

(3) Ocean Grove "Up In The Air Forever" (2022) link

In another case of "all I want is a repeat". Ocean Grove deliver the goods with another fantastic chapter. Re-imagining the Brit Pop, Grunge, Alternative Rock and Metal of the 90s with a splash of 00s pop too, its appeal ran deep. Little advanced beyond its original concept plotted last record. Perhaps this time a little less aggression and metallic tone but in that absence the catchyness and energy goes a distance. Another cracking record of back to back great tunes.

(2) Arcanist "Hyperborea" (2022) link

I'd consider these Dungeon Synth adjacent spaces a spot for both genius and low-effort clones to emerge. Discovering the better is always a delight for a genre I feel still as much to offer if done like this pair of records has been. My top two this year both take the biscuit in going the distance. With touches of Berlin School and vivid imaginations for fantastical journeys, each offers a vastly different experience yet steeped in powerful musical exploration, they both bare freeing structures and a musical ethos for exploring unchained dynamics between instruments.

(1) Old Sorcery "Dragon Citadel Elegies" (2022) link

As part of my streaming music arsenal, Old Sorcery edges out through its familiarity and repeated listens. If felt obvious early on yet as the months roll by its fantastical character and sense of adventure persisted. Old Sorcery has always felt like an artist with a unique voice but in this conclusion of the Castle trilogy, it's matured greatly. Perhaps The Hand Of Merlin soundtrack helped with that development as Dragon Citadel Elegies instrumental composition feels expanded. Either way, this is one artist to keep an eye on!

Chaosbay "2222" (2022)

 

Built on top of the 2 Billion EP, 2222 expands horizons without a renewed distinction. A few recycled riffs and lyrical themes present deja-vu moments, drilling the theme down ones throat. Otherwise, its a fair effort maintaining its demeanor. Still playing out the Periphery formula, its glossy, crisp production and juxtaposition between jolted aggression and gleaming melodic gets to play out opposites on occasion. A couple bright poppy tracks get a lone run, as do the regular stomps of polyrythmic Djent brutality. The later emphasized by some ridiculous bass noise rumbling in tight spots.

A handful of guest voices spice things up along the way but with the bands dynamic so firmly established, I found myself simply content on many a spin, lacking that craving to climb back in. Boxes resembled a viral infection upon contact. 2222 has not had that impact. Flowing song structures and the sparkling dynamics of electronic manipulation didn't lick like before. Its odd, an attentive rundown reveals nothing but quality and craft, with plenty of stunning singing yet somehow the gravitas was lacking. Its more likely to be a reflection of my mood, more so than the record itself.

Rating: 6/10

Chaosbay "2 Billion" (2022)

 

With surprise struck off, the stakes were high. As a result, 2 Billion had a harder time leaving its mark. As one of my favorite discoveries this year, Chaosbay swept me up with conviction through their prior Boxes EP. This following four-track fits the mold set earlier in the year, possibly all material for a future album. Rock-steady on the same path, another round of blows is exchanged as high octane Djent Metal explores the dynamics of bow wrapped, polished brutality and bright melodic gleams, present in both glossy synths and through the energized emotive vocals of Jan Listing. Once again, I'm immensely impressed with the song writing and breezy flow of these songs. They swing from hard chugging grooves to soaring tuneful lines with class. Sadly, its all still mostly in the shadow of Periphery who came before them. That lack of originality may explain why they are yet catch a viral wind within the Metal scene.

If there is any distinction to be drawn, the mechanical nature of tight metallic chops and slick production imbues many of the slamming chugs and tightly gated riffs a real sense of "computerization". The bass pedal stomps with precision, in unison with "on off" guitar grooves. Being rigidly syncopated, they sound almost glitched like a record skip. Its satisfying tho, a treat that moves sweetly with the momentum. Furthering this industrious precision, the rhythm section sits up front in the mix, dominating. The magic, in my opinion, mostly stems from the electronic tones layering in an airy ambience and the acoustic guitars that weave in the luscious melodies. Hard to fault, as it works so apparently. I do wonder if more emphasis on this calmer, more uplifting side would serve them well. Either way, they have both aspects locked down.

Rating: 6/10

Chaosbay "Asylum" (2020)

 

One of this years most exciting releases, Boxes, was my introduction to the German Progressive Metal outfit. Starting at a peak of evolution and working your way back can often taint the musical discovery. With Asylum, all I could initially hear was the distance from their now Periphery inspired, high octane foray of cutting edge melodic Metal. With a less punchy production, a lack of angular grooves and feisty aggression, I overlooked the emotional outpouring this record is. Sure, it has moments of might with chops of metallic onslaught and shouty screams but where Asylum shines is in scenic melody where the music transforms from powerful riff lead barrages to heart felt singing and moving lead guitar licks, which it has in a plentiful supply!

The heavy djent riffs, Metalcore breakdowns and jolting polyrhythmic grooves quickly subsided from focus as the lyrics started to raise up its streams of warmth and color. Passionate words of social-political consciousness took sway with stems of plain spoken ideals and morals expressed bluntly from a compassionate space. With each passing listen my attention shifted from the arsenal of competent bouncy riffs to the Pop Metal singing and acoustic led passageways that carve a path through the carnage. It all brings me back around to the albums cover. A calm of lush seas, present among the chaos of a fiery storm. The name too feels like a commentary on the feeling of being institutionalized by their perceived state of current society.

As a whole the dynamism isn't quite there. The frequent sways plunging into punchy metallic aggressiveness a little to typical for the times but in the melodic component it finds plenty of catchy endearing tunes, often amped up by timely guitar solos and warm singing. All in all its a really interesting record, one I feel like if I were forced to listen on a regular basis I'd probably end up loving as my enjoyment has only grown from the initial luke-warm reaction. Chaosbay clearly have something to offer the current trend in Metal and it seems as if they are on the cusp of a fantastic next step. There next full length effort will be one to keep an eye out for!

Rating: 7/10

Chaosbay "Boxes" (2022)

 

Taking a page from the Periphery book, this German Progressive Metal outfit have forged a fine fusion of sweet Pop sensibilities and chunky Djent guitars. It oozes at the seams with color as its fine aesthetic powers through a range of pummeling guitar grooves through to gorgeous washes of bright melody. The two ebb and flow breezily, elasticated between extremes that offer no contrast. The mid track Lonely People champions this sublime chemistry. Its a four minute attention grabber swaying in with their heaviest sledge hammer of a riff, cruising onto the catchiest of choruses with the "I am afraid, What have I done? I've got this feeling the machines have won" line.

Singer Jan Listing has a wonderful voice. Delivering meaty screams and ascending with a sharp clean voice that soars, he moves with the musics gravity. His presence often bridges the melody, fostering a link from the menacing brutality of Djent slabs that pluck in and out of focus to form mammoth grooves. Between it all the music is embellished by both technical prowess and inspiration as guitar solos and other creative compositions give the five songs a constant stream of excitement.

The albums production is clear and pristine, It feels dense as the two guitars play compliment to one another. The one focusing on power chords and low end guitar notes, the other adding the melody with glossy acoustic guitars and gleaming melodies. Its quite amazing how massive this four piece sound together. Drummer Patrick Bernath also puts out a wonderful show of dexterity and creativity. A continuous source of exuberance for these five tracks. I'm frankly blown away, this has been a fine introduction to a band touching on a decade together. More listening is required after this fine initiation.

Rating: 7/10