From Bandcamp, “Experience Machine” is a concept album set in a polarized Dystopian world and seen through the eyes of the story's Protagonist, a man lost in depression and heartache. All seems lost until a chance encounter with a mysterious Doctor sets him on a new path to find peace of mind and escape from the chaos of his life. What will be the final outcome for the Protagonist? Are you ready to enter the Experience Machine?” The album has 13 songs.

“After the Plague” is a short intro, leading to “State of Nihilism.” It has a heavy and aggressive sound, but the vocals are shouted, and the riffs are simple. The lead guitar work is decent, but I hear mostly an amalgam of Thrash and Death Metal. “In the Wake” has another simple riff that rests too much on open notes and a formula that has been used too much in the past. The next two songs are very short, and I question what they are trying to do first with a guitar sound ad then a bass sound. “Dr. Draven” at least has some energy to it, but that is about the only thing good.

“Without Fear” is another short song that just doesn’t have much in the way of originality. “Return to a Broken Reality” fits in with the theme of the album, but again, offers little to the listener. “Forever the Pariah” has some nice, thicker tones, but is seems like the band is trying too hard to push an aggressive sound, and the guitars can’t really keep up with the shouted vocals. “Upon the Riots” also has a little more energy, but it’s too little, too late for me. “Simulation Evermore” closes the album, and unfortunately, it’s more of the same.

The album wasn’t a total loss, but the formulas used in the compositions meant that it would never get off the ground. The riffs are too simple, use too many open notes, and the shouted vocals don’t add much either.