Genre : Post-metal, Progressive metal
Released : October 28th, 2022
Label : Pelagic Records
FFO : The Ocean, Tool, Dvne, Hippotraktor
What is it with Belgian trios making some of the most exciting and huge sounding "post" heavy music to be found in the scene in recent years? Is there something in the water? Is it the triple-cooked french fries? Is it the frikandel? The beer? It's definitely the beer.
Having been introduced to Psychonaut's music for the first time in 2020 with their excellent psychedelic, cosmic post-metal odyssey "Unfold The God Man", the trio immediately made a strong impression on me with their dexterous blend of spiritually-inclined progressive metal "Ã la" Tool and earth-shattering, sludgy walls of gargantuan post-metal following the steps of Cult of Luna or The Ocean Collective.
On their newly released third full-length album, "Violate Consensus Reality", similarly to their fellow kinsmen in Brutus, Psychonaut do not seek to introduce new or different stylistical elements to their sound but instead work on honing what they were already doing so well previously and scale things up.
Indeed, if "Unfold The God Man" was an asteroid rushing through space and time, "Violate Consensus Reality" feels more like the birth of a neutron star, pulling everything and everyone at its core.
There's just something about the way Psychonaut write their riffs and layer vocals that immediately evokes themes of cosmic proportions, whether it is during calmer sections that prompt the listener towards introspection or when the trio fires off on all cylinders and frontman Stefan de Graef's razor-sharp vocals pierce through the veil of serenity the band had previously constructed to unleash a cathartic burst of energy which feels akin to some sort of sonic epiphany.
From the album's opening track which aptly enacts the urgency of its song title "A Storm Approaching", readying the listener for the journey that lies ahead up until its twelve minute epic conclusion "Towards The End" ; Psychonaut's choice of band name is more than justified given their ability to propulse their listeners into a sensory,meditative journey of internal exploration. Honestly, just put down the ayahuasca and put on this record instead.
Of course, let's not forget the album's title track and middle point which contends for best post-metal collaborative effort of the year, featuring Stefanie Mannaerts (Brutus) and Colin H. van Eeckhout (Amenra), showcasing yet again the post-metal talent that exists in Belgium's eclectic alternative music scene.
I don't even have any negative pinpricks to make honestly, this is such a well constructed, though-out and well performed album on all fronts with enough diversity and variation to make fifty-two minutes feel like the blink of an eye given how well the album pulls you into the journey it has to offer.
"Violate Consensus Reality" has to be one of the best releases in the "post" category this year and I look forward to catch these guys live again to hear some of the new material on this record.