Long Island NY’s Artificial Brain returns with their third album, a self-titled one. Prior to the release vocalist and my friend Will Smith announced he was leaving in order to focus on being the singer for Afterbirth, also Long Island natives. Will’s departure and vocal style will be missed but I’m not sure who the new singer is but they’re currently on tour in Europe. I knew the band had wanted to tour but due to work demands Will couldn’t be a regular touring musician; like the lot of us.

10 songs in 45 minutes, the title track opens and is less than 3 minutes. Ironically at a brief 2.38 this track is the same amount of time as “Brain Transplant” off their blistering 2014 debut Labyrinth Constellation. This title track is a mindfuck, in terms of nonlinear guitar riffs and patterns. So, in essence, this is 100% Artificial Brain. Blasting, gurgling growls and this opener rules. “Glitch Cannon” is up next with more insane riffs and growls. The 2.40 section is phenomenal with the weird atmospheric guitar riffs, gurgling vox and killer musical patterns before the blasts return and the song ends.

“Celestial Cyst” has a very similar pattern to Ulcerate and if you’ve never heard Artificial Brain then bands like Ulcerate, Gorguts, Gigan and Pyrrhon would point you in the right direction; just with more guttural vocals. The rhythms on this song are insane. Sounding like a galactic out-of-this-world band caught in a black hole space vortex, sucking the life out of you, this track will make your head spin at all the time changes. Some polyrhythms and exceptional drumming will make you shake your head at the talent on display. The riffs are original and gurgling vocals and signature time changes make this track one of the bands’ best in their great discography.

“Cryogenic Dreamworld” begins with some soft ethereal tones almost reminding me of Cynic and later Death. The blast erupts and the song slows back down to cause your chest to collapse from the crushing heaviness. The 1.20 part definitely reminds me of Cynic and is almost like jazz rock fusion before the signature Artificial Brain sound returns and this is so damn original and adding a depth of musical complexity the band is known for; but also outdoing themselves on this record. Brilliant song.

“The Last Words of the Wobbling Sun”, at over six minutes, closes the album with amazing riffs over the excellent 90’s era death metal speed as the song slows down to a mid-paced heaviness with a sinister spoken word moment. This part is beauty in chaos and thankfully repeats. It’s so goddamn entertaining. The 2.20 guitar solo is killer and how it then morphs into a video game-like sound effect as the song gets really close to gravity blasts. The song continues with multiple time changes before ending and closing out with reverb.

Artificial Brain’s s/t album is a game changer in this style of death metal. Brutal, technical, complex, ethereal, atmospheric, dark, and interesting extreme music which makes them one of my favorite bands. They’re not an easy listen but they will make you think and it’s one of those albums every time you listen you discover something new. Not many bands can do that. My boy Will no doubt saved his best set of pipes for his last release with the band. Christ almighty this album crushes. Buy or Die!

[Visit the band's website]

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