Engram of Decline

I pre-ordered this album on the strength of its single sons of ignorance and honestly feel like someone somewhere has been done a disservice by my spending only $10 (or however much it was in euros) to get this gem in my possession. This album is a true masterpiece. I put it up there with Martyr's hopeless hopes (with slightly reminiscent artwork) and warp zone, except the production quality is much better (because it's now and not twenty years ago). Best album of 2017 -- and I'm still listening to it in 2018 on a near-daily basis.

I’ll tell you what’s going on with this album, as far as I understand and appreciate it. Firstly, to get the whole genre question out of the way: We’ve got the requisite growling vocals, with some excellent blehhh’s thrown in for good measure, and even some whispering and harmonized singing. There is also some actual, musical use of harmonics and pinch harmonics, on the album’s epically heavy “half” title-tracks, decline and collective engram. Mostly the vocals remind me of Mikael Åkerfeldt’s growling in Opeth, although not as ‘big’, as the album has a different production quality from albums like still life, orchid, blackwater park, etc. The album mix allows for every note to come through clearly. My only gripe production-wise would be that the bass is a little low in the mix. Still, it’s audible though, I’m not talking about ...and justice for all bass levels here, and it works considering the virtuoso guitarwork merits being right up in your ears. Every song on this album is catchy, but when you listen closely, you'll find the music has a secret life to it, with no riff ever being played quite in the same way twice, polyrhythms, polymeters, rhythmic changes that fly by so fast you won't even notice if you're not paying attention -- in short, this band produces controlled chaos. I'm not sure how the singer can deliver his vocals and play all that on his 7-string at the same time. He must be so good at patting his head and rubbing his belly simultaneously.

Each track also has a very rich atmospheric mix, which tells me that production of this album was done very meticulously and that everyone involved in this junior effort approached the project with an ear for detail. Actually, when I compare this album to my favorite from 2016, Revocation’s great is our sin, I have to say that the American contingent can learn a thing or two from the Europeans when it comes to scene and setting. On the other hand, great is our sin’s lyrical content is much stronger, but let’s blame the language barrier here. Cliff notes, Americans use strongly visual lyrical content, Europeans use atmospheric soundscapes. The effect is the same, but different. Back to Fractal Universe.

Although this band hails from France their lyrics are predominantly in English. The song backworldsmen has German lyrics, and also a saxophone solo by none other than Jørgen Munkeby, who just seems to be everywhere (Jaga Jazzist, Shining, Emperor, Enslaved, the list goes on and on...). Narcissistic loop has some French lyrics. A name to deny opens with a haunting piano and string composition which I imagine Varg Vikerness was attempting to play in his mom’s basement before fleeing into the woods... the piano opening comes back as a motif played on the guitar later on before introducing a very tasty and jazzy lead, indeed.

Death metal growls are my favorite, especially when the music underneath is heavy and progressive. But I’ll be honest, the number one reason I love this album is the solos. I’m a sucker for a good guitar solo, and this album is rife with amazing guitar wizardry. I also enjoy concept albums in particular as I often find they’re more cohesive than an album just full of tracks.

If you’re too strapped for time to check out the whole album on just my humble recommendation, do me a favor and at least listen to sons of ignorance, the single with the quintessentially cheesy metal video. I’ve been pimping this band to the small number of people I know who like metal. A friend of mine didn’t like the second solo, saying it was redundant – but this person is not a musician, and I think you might have to be to appreciate some of the solos on this album. Of course it might just be a matter of taste. I think each solo on this album is an enrichment.

Actually, my personal favorite album track is venomous coils of a holy fallacy, maybe because of the classical connection, and I’m a sucker for distorted tetrachords when they’re done right. The arrangement of this song in particular is outstanding, and of course there is an amazing solo, like on every track. The ending of this song reminds me of the endings of Cynic’s celestial voyage and Mastodon’s aqua dementia.

Plus the riffs, but there’s no shortage of riffs on this album! The heaviest song on the album might be scar legacy of hatred, which also has some evil-sounding, Holdsworth-y solo work going on, some black metal riffage, and some epic double bass drumming. The album is very rich in textures, not only instrumentally speaking, but also vocally. Yet nothing sounds forced or superfluous – to me, anyway. Of course I’m biased because I love this album.

It is a concept album about Nietzsche’s work. Philosophy, hence the big words in the track titles. Does anyone even know what an “engram” is? I had to look up the meaning and already can't remember anymore.

Personally, I think Nietzsche was kind of a douchebag, judging by his writings, and I know I’m not the only one who thinks this. But anyway, I’m not sure the album is a homage to the guy, but rather a response to his most famous work.

I’m not going to get into a philosophical discussion here, though. I like not being pissed off.

Musically speaking, besides the solos there was one thing that really stood out to me about the arrangement and chord progressions. There is an overriding theme, with the repetition of one specific chord progression. This is what gives the album much of its classical quality, as the same progression is used in Beethoven’s 7th symphony (second movement). Venomous coils of a holy fallacy, for example, has that progression, but so does collective engram.

The catchiest song on the album is probably narcissistic loop. The chorus reminds me of new Voivod – although that is where the Voivod comparison ends. Another exquisite solo on that song too, as well as some sweet, sweet growls, plus, a blehh when you least expect it. Sorry for the spoiler!

FYI I bought this album through the European distributor on pre-order and it cost me something like $10, or €10, or £10 -- whatever they’re all the same, money is just an illusion... Which is one of the reasons why I recommend you buy this album.

If you’re a (bass) guitarist, they have a digital tab book out you can find on Bandcamp. I prefer transcribing songs the hard way, but if they ever put out a hard copy of the book I’ll be sure to get it for my collection. Enjoy and Cheers!