Genre : Metalcore, Djent, Electronic, EDM
Released : April 22nd, 2022
Label : Believe
FFO : Spiritbox, Loathe, Linkin Park, Architects,
Bring Me The Horizon
In 2019, Australian progressive metalcore outfit Northlane decided to take a steep turn in their career, leading to a radical stylistical shift that saw them depart from the proggy post-hardcore sound fans had learned to love, to embrace a brand new dystopian, cyber-metalcore style heavily infused with various electronic dance music influences.
Change always causes some kind of schism and while some absolutely hated this newfound direction and marked the death of the band for them, the majority of listeners have fully embraced this electro-infused metamorphosis.
As for me personally, even though I used to enjoy Northlane as a bystander, it is 2019's "Alien" that truly drew me in and made me a fan of the band.
And "Obsidian" is purely the continuation of what Northlane have started with "Alien" in 2019.
The main differences here being that "Obsidian" perhaps focuses even more on the electronic side of their sound and specifically on the smoother, more atmospheric elements instead of the gnarly and gritty electronics playing around the insanely low and bassy guitar tones,despite that still being a core element of their new formula.
The other difference I find concerns the thematic of the album. Whilst "Alien" felt very intimitate and personal as lead singer Marcus Bridge exorcized his own demons and trauma with raw emotion, "Obsidian" tackles a broader range of subjects, ranging from commentary about the effects of social media, misoginy within the world of heavy music, the repercussions of the pandemic and much more.
Overall, the performances on this record are absolutely captivating and Marcus displays a mastery of his voice that could be compared to the likes of heavy-hitters such as the late Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) and the production perfectly captures that blend of both futuristic electronica and massive-sounding, gritty metallic heaviness.
My main regret is that the album feels like it trails off a little bit here and there in its second half, but aside from that, the songwriting makes it so that each song feel fresh and offers its own captivating narrative.
Northlane have continued to experiment with their new identity as a "cyber-metalcore" act successfully and I'm curious to see where they will go from here in the future; and you can be sure that many metalcore bands are being inspired by the work of these Australian pionneers.