From the rubble of As I Lay Dying and the remains of Allegaeon came the newest lineup of the progressive metalcore collective MIRE (stylized in all caps, probably to stand out from the 100,000 other progcore bands). MIRE has been around since 2018, and their history has been filled with djenty chugs, time signature switches, and personnel changes. They were a mere duo on their first release, a trio on their second, and finally this lineup, with ex-As I Lay Dying guitarist Nick Hipa and ex-Allegaeon drummer JP Andrade. "Pale Reflection" is brought forth by a newfangled, refined MIRE, and it clearly shows.

Meshuggah. The first word that came to mind, and it couldn't be more fitting. MIRE exemplifies djent in this record, following closely in the footsteps of the genre's founders. I'm a sucker for some good djent, even if I don't listen to Meshuggah religiously --  I'm more of an Animals As Leaders typa guy. Of course, the progressive metal tag is earned through the technicality and the djent appearance in itself. The riffs are angular, mechanical, and ever-so satisfying. From the opening title track, both Hipa and Glisan's guitars are fueled by pure aggression, and you can really hear the three tons of metal each chug emits. Speaking of metal, Glisan also weilds the bass, which, especially in songs like "The Master," is audible and metallic as hell. Andrade's drums are practically machine guns, too. Each solo and riff is assisted by his bombastic playing, which never lets up for a second. It's simply lovely to hear. "Pale Reflection" shows MIRE at an abrasive yet melodious angle. The album isn't without its surplus of soaring hooks and choruses, which adds to the metalcore feel.

Speaking of metalcore, MIRE obviously doesn't conform to the mainstream standard, with all of its bright colors, poppy influences, and tampon coupon CD inserts. McKibben obviously draws influence from Jens Kidman's monotone rasp, and he executes it pretty well. He also taps into cleaner vocals, but not enough for one to stop listening for whatever reason. During choruses like the ones found in "Human Condition" or "Significance Plague," he maintains the harsh vocals, resulting in a type of metalcore that fukks. This album is way more accessible than any Meshuggah record, but it's a perfect segue into their work.

You can totally use MIRE's "Pale Reflection" to indoctrinate your friends into the djent sphere. It's a solid album that I wish I had gotten to sooner. I fully enjoyed my time with Meshuggah's younger brother.