From Bandcamp, “Formed in 2020, ALLT is a Progressive Metalcore band from Karlskoga, Sweden, known for their audiovisual storytelling and innovative approach to metalcore. ALLT are set to solidify their trademark sound with their debut album "From the New World.” It’s a meticulously crafted musical journey of self-discovery in the wake of devastation. The album is inspired by the world's tensions and fears, exploring themes of collapse and resilience in the physical aftermath of a nuclear event and the emotional and philosophical landscape that would follow. To fully immerse themselves in the creative process and the themes of the album, the band spent some time isolated in a forest cabin.”

The album has ten songs, and “A Flash of Light” is first. Think of it as a mood-setter for what is to come…ominous, electronic tones that build and explode with the force of an atom bomb. “Remnant” follows, and it almost sounds like Progressive Deathcore to me, because the low end is so damn low, and so fucking weighted. Clean vocals and melody are interspersed, and the transitions in and out of these passages and done expertly well, such that they seem to just flow with the music. Like a mentally ill person suffering from occasional hallucinations, it can go from angry to gentle at the speed of light. “Aquilla” uses a good deal of backing ambiance in the story, which gets progressively hateful very quickly. The electronic elements are almost industrial in their delivery and the combination of clean and harsh vocals keeps the listener fully immersed in the experience.

“Memory of Light” features an incredibly low punch of a thick, bulky rhythms and Djent sounds from the guitars. Vengeful vocals accompany them, and the song sounds like war personified in music, but everything is carefully controlled. “Echoes” was the first single that I heard from the album, and I immediately connected with its dark and gentle sound that roars forward with the fervor of lion protecting their pride. The melodies play very nicely with the absolute blackness that spews from the bottom end of the song. “The Orphan Breed” is arctic cold song that seems to operate at just above zero degrees Kelvin, but will burn a hole in your flesh the longer it lingers. It twists and turns with harsh angles and rhythms that seem unnatural, yet there is a flow to the song.

“Dissect Yourself” beats you over the head repeatedly with a riff that is as heavy as the gravitational pull of a black hole, and the vocals vary from extreme gutturals to outright screams. The sound is as sharp as razors that gut you and are gone before you even start to bleed. “Eminate” is another horribly cumbersome song that broods beyond hatred in the vocals, and the chorus like a catharsis against the pulverizing battering that was just dished out. The inner workings of the band’s minds are wickedly hellish. “Ephemeral” provides a brief reprieve from the beating just for fleeting moments, and you savor them like your last meal before being put to death. “Cycles” closes the album, and lets you off of the torture chair in order for you to gather you last bit of strength before it breaks you forever.

The word “Metalcore” is one of the most polarizing words in the overarching world of Metal music. But this is a new breed of music that goes far beyond the breaking point of most listeners. Refusing to conform to traditional conventions, its sound is bold and unrelenting, with jagged rhythms and abrasive textures. Amidst the bruising intensity, there are brief snippets of melody that emerge like fleeting breaths of air. These melodic fragments don’t soften the blow but instead highlight the emotional tension, making the contrast even more poignant. It’s a record that thrives in its extremes, and is as punishing as it is captivating, reminding you that even within chaos, there’s a pulse of life. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in that cabin to witness their creative process, and this is one of the best releases I have heard this year.