Review Summary: Ultraviolet is a record that we’ve already heard before at this point with very little change in creativity or originality. Short and straight to the point that doesn’t drag and is simply an adequate listening experience.
A couple of years ago, As Everything Unfolds emerged onto the scene with their debut album, Within Each Lies the Other, and what an interesting blend of styles and influences that was to hear. Fronted by Charlie Rolfe, an exceptional vocalist who has the talented ability to perform dignified cleans as well as roaring guttural screams, the band combined styles of nu-metal and post-hardcore to produce a unique sound that was a solid start of their journey in 2021. Well here we are a few years later, and what’s changed? The answer: not a lot.
Ultraviolet is the newest, sophomore release from the United Kingdom’s own, As Everything Unfolds. From one end to the other, the band’s newest release finds itself residing in the mold that their first album had fabricated when they first introduced themselves. Ultraviolet features a heavy-style, modern production across the entire record that is reasonably accessible across all auditory mediums to provide an aggressive and dynamic listening experience. The majority of tracks here are commanding with fat guitar riffs and in-your-face, punchy drums. Songs like “Ultraviolet” and “Blossom” feature the chorus detail that the band has honed in on, which are decently catchy. The record features a couple of short and sweet guitar solos sprinkled throughout the experience that were enjoyable enough. Although in “Saint or Rogue”, the guitar tone is drowned out behind the mix of the heavier instrumentals that should have been supporting the solo. An additional peculiarity was found in “Rose Bouquets” where the guitar featured in the solo section sounds so thin and empty, as if it was the demo take that was used and panned all the way to the left.
As much as I can admire Charlie’s dynamic range, I found the harsh vocals in this project to be unfulfilling and obnoxious at times. Rolfe’s cleans are charismatic and pleasant which leads me to think that if there is any room for anyone else able to provide the harsh vocals, this would create an exceptional vocal experience all around. The closing track, “All I’ve Ever Known” was the weakest that I’ve heard Charlie so far with an uninspired and sterile chorus. An off-putting Imogen Heap-vocoder effect used on the last line, “To make me feel again,” feels thrown in and comes off as a gimmick.
Ultraviolet is a record that we’ve already heard before at this point with very little change in creativity or originality. This record sounds like a continuation from their own, Within Each Lies The Other. Not that the band needed to completely turn a one-eighty, but the moments on this record that do have stylistic changes, sound the best to me. Besides a few element production choices, the mix sounds crisp and impactful. Songs like “Saint or Rogue”, “Rose Bouquets” and “Twilight” featured successful stylistic ventures that I enjoyed and wish I heard more of. Within Each Lies the Other had very little difference from this record, but the songs on their previous release felt more unique and entertaining that struck a better feeling. Overall, this project is short and straight to the point that doesn’t drag and is simply an adequate listening experience. It’s nothing that is jarring enough to turn your back on, but it is also nothing grandiose or impressive. The band plays it safe in terms of songwriting and production and there are a lot of catchy moments, but unfortunately nothing that I see the band really breaking out with. If this group is willing to commit themselves and explore new avenues within the genre, they might be able to generate something really amazing. For better or for worse, this time they held back and let autopilot direct their sound and creativity.
