ANNISOKAY reinvented themselves on their fifth studio album, which was released in 2021 via Arising Empire, and entered at #18 in the official German album charts. The album was the first to feature the band's new front man and heavy vocalist Rudi Schwarzer - a long-time friend of the band - who stepped into the role in late 2019. On this new EP, guitarist/clean vocalist Christoph Wieczorek oversaw production duties on the album, which is full of heavy riffs, driving percussion, melodic, goosebump-inducing cleans and aggressive shouts. The quartet is completed by drummer Nico Vaeen, and bassist Norbert Rose. The album has six songs.

"Into the Abyss" is first. There is a heavy electronic entrance, which seems to come from all around, like a thunderstorm. Heavy, melodic accents follow, then tender clean vocals. Seguing into "Human," the brutal backbone is still there, rattling your core. The melodies are bright however. You can loosely call this Metalcore, but before this triggers you, consider that the band have found a way to transform the genre to new heights. This is not your dad's music. "Ultraviolet" shows the band firing on all cylinders, and wrapping up a tight package for the listener. The balance that they show between the contentious elements and pure melody is impressive. "Throne of the Sunset" brings some Groove to dinner, served with an equal heaping portion of both punishment and melodic bliss. "Calamity" comes out of left field, but it's like a warm ray of sunshine in the middle of grey skies. The band shows some real songwriting skills by changing things up like this, and you will be singing this catchy chorus for days.

"Time" closes the album, and it's a perfect, well-balanced closing song, to bring the album together and it illustrates what the band does best. Overall, this was an outstanding EP. The production is stellar, and the quartet walk that incredibly fine line between melody and aggression with the skills of a tightrope walker on a unicycle, with a breeze at his side to boot. They commit to both, and neither, at the same time, always keeping the listener guessing what is coming next. Forget about genre labels-all they do is bog you down. Enjoy this for what is is...a genre-transformative album with the vicious bite of a bear, and the warm touch of the sun.