Long Island, New York-based Technical and extreme Death Metal supergroup ARTIFICIAL BRAIN are about to release their brand new record "Infrared Horizon" - which will be their second full-length album, and a long awaited follow up to their critically and highly acclaimed debut album "Labyrinth Constellation". It took over 3 years to write and record the new album, and from what I have heard, this will top everything they have done; even though I am still a huge fan of the debut, which was incredibly extraordinary. So if you're a fan of incredibly dizzy, bizarre, and interesting Technical Death Metal, you're in the right place!

The album consists of 10 tracks  (all at around 5 minutes in length) and the album clocks in at around 47:45 minutes. The whole thing starts off with "Floating in Delirium", which instantly made me a huge fan of the entire album with its on-point, deep, nasty riffs, and even filthier guttural vocals - which are, to be pretty clear, nasty as hell, and are one of the deepest vocal types this genre has to offer. The song is incredibly complex, and without any hesitations or intros, it starts off with a sort of mechanical barrage of incredibly complex and extreme riffs, followed by the even more extreme vocals. At some points in the song thing speed up to some rather indescribable technical moments, where almost all instruments can be heard; which usually isn't even a problem with this band, since I know they definitely tune up instruments to a point that they become absolutely dominant. Seriously, this song is ultra-wicked, and I simply adore the combination of those sludgy and guttural vocals with the incredibly beautiful guitar riffs, followed by the delicious bass lines, washed in filthy, very atmospheric, yet, really dissonant atmospheres.

Off to something you guys can experience, which is the second track on the record, and currently the only one available for streaming on Bandcamp or Youtube; and that is "Synthesized Instinct". If you're a long time fan of the band, you might've heard the song already, but damn, it's well worth blasting it a few more times, am I right or am I right? The incredibly haunting and dissonant atmosphere, the complex and brutal riffs, the various vocal types (mostly deep growls, although high screams at times) the furious drumming - everything is utterly perfect on this track. If you loved this one, you already have a taste of the upcoming record, but still, you can't be prepared for such an earth-devouring, massive and brutal record, trust me on this one.

So, now you know what to do on April 21^st when the record drops via the bands trustworthy, Canada-based label Profound Lore Records! This quintet is not to mess with, their music cuts flesh and bone. Although the band has only been active since 2011, they have formed a sound which will always be characteristic to them, and a few more bands, since, if we're honest, everyone needs some inspiration. They had released a single back in their year of formation called "Lightwaves Birthing Ages", which had potential, and the demo (named simply "Demo 2011") which came out the same year showcased some growing skill, while their first EP, "Butchering Cosmic Giants" demonstrated the true birth of dissonant and arrogant Technical Death Metal, in a style that ARTIFICIAL BRAIN would stick to.

I suppose that there is no need to mention their debut full-length, for you know the drill. Basically, my point is, that in such a short period of time, this band rose up to be one of USA's greatest bands in this genre, and I'm not even kidding. Side by side, shoulder-by-shoulder with a few others, they are amongst the top ones!

Back to the album! The third track, "Static Shattering", is a nasty and a bit more experimental, and slightly different in its vocal stylings, where the growls are not fully tuned down and have a bit more dynamic energy in themselves. The fourth track, "Estranged from Orbit", is a bit nostalgic, since it instantly reminded me of the band's debut - particularly the title track "Labyrinth Constellation". It doesn't rush and it's charming with its deep guitar tones and the overall slow atmosphere, which still manages to remain extremely heavy and dissonant, whilst keeping its true form of technicality; and makes you wonder how does a band manage to create such a unique and bizarre sound?

We are halfway through and the title track comes on. "Infrared Horizon" starts off even slower than any previous track, with a brutal and slow intro, loud guitars, even louder and rawer vocals, dizzy sounds, avant-garde passages, technical guitar storms, brutal and furious riffs, and the more I listen to it, the more I love it. Although you'd have to be a master Death Metal listener to actually get some of these lyrics, if you listen carefully, or simply look into them on the CD you're going to purchase (because yes, you are going to do it), you'll realise how not only the sound, but the overall lyrics of this band are something you should absolutely follow - for they actually have to offer something amazing and brain-shattering; not only those classic Death Metal lyrics, because, we all know what those are about. ARTIFICIAL BRAIN are more focused on alien life (or on life that is generally misunderstood) and other planets; basically wondering and imagining things that could be real, which depends on one's point of view, but you get the gist of it - sci-fi/cosmic/planetary/space/astronomy-influenced lyrics and a lot more.

 "Infrared Horizon" is most certainly my favourite track, because at the very end you can experience the deepest growls you have probably ever heard; I seriously need to shower from how disgusting this record is. "Anchored to the Inlayed Arc" starts with weird voices, a lot of deep drumming, extraordinary atmospheres, and a lot of brutal and deep vocals, and the reason why I love ARTIFICIAL BRAIN so much lies in their influences. Although most of these bands don't really have anything to do with the band, but still, some of the various elements actually remind me from time to time, for example, of the rarely blossoming avant-garde/technical influences in the latest GORGUTS work, whilst the vocals are in a completely different world, or better said, they are out of this world, and their depth and melancholic touch reminds me a lot of what PORTAL is doing with their sound, while the dizzy guitars and the brutal, dissonant atmosphere reminds a little bit of ULCERATE and PYRRHON.

 "Mist like Mercury" indeed adds a little spacey touch to the overall thing, and it is more of a relaxing, calm song, but not for too long, since the vocals kind of demolish everything it tried to be in the beginning; no matter how complex a band's atmosphere is, nothing is complete without a touch of brutal vocals; and to add to the overall thing, the seventh track actually has some even weirder elements than heard previously, which made me love this album even more. "Vacant Explorer" is more of a melodic track, at the very beginning that is, for towards the end it still keeps rocking hard, showcasing that this album hasn't yet ended, and it won't, at least not for two more songs. The vocals are sharp and on point, some of them being a bit scream-influenced whilst the overall vocals are deep, greasy, and guttural growling vocals.

"Graveyard of Lightless Planets" has some hidden avant-garde messages in itself, for if you listen carefully, you'll be able to successfully hunt down those weird moments - which are kind of hard not to notice. The entire guitar work is just magically bizarre, leading one to a maze of riffs, furious drums, and somehow an atmosphere one can't encounter too often. This track seriously reminds me of anything DEMILICH has written, which can only be a good thing. Off to the last track, and the band has taken their final breath on this album, just to prove once again that at the fourth month of this already amazing year, they have already managed to put themselves on the non-existent list of top albums of the year! "Ash Eclipse" reminds me a lot of what Black Metal has started to sound like the recent years, especially what DEATHSPELL OMEGA, PLEBEIAN GRANDSTAND, and DODECAHEDRON have been doing; and to top off things, if you enjoyed this album, check out the new records by all of those bands, two are from last year, and one was released a month ago (which I have also reviewed) - brilliant material, somehow close to what ARTIFICIAL BRAIN have done.

The last track is a fair goodbye to this album, yet, a sad one. What I am trying to say is that if you weren't convinced to listen to this album after so much reading, you're a tough one, but still not as tough as you would be if you spin this album at least once. Prepare for a weird and experimental journey through music, you'll forget not only the year we're currently in, but the one you were born in too. Vivam dissonantia! (Viva dissonance)!