Review Summary: mask off
Allow me to get the obvious out of the way - this isn't a black metal album, and that's fine. Stylistic shifts are the kind of evolution I can respect provided they're done with the best of intentions - genuine artistic expression and a desire to explore. A key comparison I would make is Swallow the Sun's recent shift towards a more direct and commercial product and though in my last review I was deeply critical of the execution, it's very clear it was done with genuine artistic intention and I thoroughly respect the attempt.
With that in mind, I'll put it in the simplest of terms how Gaerea did when trying to manage this shift.
*** this album, *** this band.
It is an insufferably transparent attempt at commercialisation but whilst trying to parade around as if they're making some form of deep artistic statement. This is a metalcore album with fast drums with songs that are lyrically, thematically and instrumentally indistinguishable from one another. It uses every cheap trick to try and sound far more profound than it is to the point where it's difficult not to feel patronised when listening if you are at all familiar with music that handles themes like mental health with the respect and grace it deserves.
As you'd expect from an album described in this way, it's characterised by strongly compressed and clean overproduced metal with the bite of a flea - a fitting comparison considering it makes you itchy and miserable. Nearly constant blastbeats sound like someone tapping on your head very quickly with a spoon for 50 minutes while thick, syrupy rhythm guitars chug away with the variety of perhaps three notes per song give or take. It tries desperately to be bombastic for nearly the entire runtime which just turns the album into a blur of sugar encrusted metalcore with zero dynamics. Occasional tremolo riffs blaze by with the same tonal variety of the rhythm guitars - which is to say none.
I've tried to hold off discussing the vocals and lyrics because they're by far the most grating aspect. The verses use the typical raspy high screams of a screamo band - which would be tolerable if I couldn't understand the lyrics. Sadly, I can, and the transparency of this being a cheap, vacuous and superficial load of *** couldn't be more apparent. Then we get to the singalong slight-distorted clean shouts - jesus christ - kill me now. How anyone is supposed to take a masked man screaming "I burn like fire" repeatedly is beyond a joke. Nice alliteration, man. Burning like fire. Excellent.
Every single chorus is a bunch of empty sentiments that are nothing but a pastiche. You cannot make up a band singing "I'm carrying a weight I will never show" in a singalong chorus. In a lead single. Can someone please tap this loser on the shoulder and remind him that he's showing it right now - and oh look, there's nothing there. Look, I don't wish imposter syndrome on anybody, but if anyone should rightfully suffer this syndrome it's this guy. The utter lack of thought in the lyrics is shocking and the only way to actually enjoy this is to completely ignore it - there is no other way.
This isn't art - it's content. It's an utterly substanceless pile of candy for Tiktok reels - which would be OK - if not parading as something far more significant. The disparity between attempting to cover deep, serious subjects with absolutely no conviction is what makes this a trainwreck. A shameless cosplay of other artists who take this with the profound reverence it deserves. Gaerea aren't the only band guilty of this, of course - but this is perhaps the most blatant example of substanceless dross I've seen in a long time. It's gross. It sucks. Throw it in the bin.
